U.S. President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for the U.S. Supreme Court. She’d be the 116th associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 32BJ leader Kyle Bragg was quick to praise Jackson, a Black woman, for her record and the president for his pick.
“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an exceptional choice by President Biden to serve on the Supreme Court,” stated Bragg. “She is an incredibly qualified jurist and a universally respected legal mind whose record demonstrates her respect for civil rights, voting rights, worker rights, and human rights.
Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Miami. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and graduated cum laude at Harvard Law School. While attending Harvard Law School, she became the editor of the Harvard Law Review: the same publication that former president Barack Obama became the first Black editor of in the publication’s history.
“Through her exemplary service, Judge Brown has climbed the judicial ladder—a career she set out to achieve the moment she graduated from high school and stated that her life goal was ‘to receive a judicial appointment’ one day,” continued Bragg. “Her ascension to the highest court in the land will send an unmistakable message to the American people that the circle of opportunity in this country now extends a little wider, and that young Black girls can achieve their grandest dreams.”
On Wednesday, Jackson held her first meetings with elected officials Senate Judiciary Committee Chairperson Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).
Officials at the Democratic National Committee called Jackson’s appointment another example of Biden delivering for the Black community especially in the judicial realm. The president has hired nine Black women to federal appellate courts.
Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF), said the appointment was the perfect way to end Black History Month.
“Her nomination is timely as we end Black History Month, celebrating the contributions of Black Americans and march into celebrating outstanding women for Women’s History Month,” read their statement. “Milestones like these have been hard-won by years of back-breaking, often unrecognized work of ordinary women and activists and should be celebrated. This moment is a step along the path towards equality, and even though we have a long way to go, inspiring women like Judge Jackson and this ground-breaking nomination gives us hope.”
But not all were happy with her nomination.
Judicial Watch, a conservative legal watchdog group, said that Jackson’s nomination was an affirmative action hire and called for an investigation into Biden’s “discrimination” and a rejection of the nominee. “President Biden has bowed to pressure from his radical base and has selected a judicial activist to fill Justice Stephen Breyer’s seat on the Supreme Court,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in a statement. “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a long record of left-wing activism both on and off the bench.
“Disturbingly, President Biden seems to have selected Judge Jackson under a process that excluded potential nominees simply because of their race and sex.”
But other (local) political figures came out in support of Biden’s nomination. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens) said that Jackson’s nomination was a tip of the cap to her hard work.
“An outstanding and historic choice! An accomplished lawyer, Judge Jackson will be a phenomenal Supreme Court Justice,” stated Suozzi.
Bragg agreed.
“Our country is stronger when everyone can reach their highest aspirations and Judge Brown is an example of what America, at her very best, can be,” he stated. “We strongly support her appointment and urge the U.S. Senate to confirm her nomination—without delay.”
Hiring professionals is the right decision. It should always be this way.