Ketanji Brown Jackson To Become First Black Woman To Serve On The Supreme Court
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Ketanji Brown Jackson has won enough votes to be confirmed into the US Supreme Court.
Today, 7 April, the liberal appeals court judge who currently serves on the US court of appeals for the DC circuit crossed the 50-vote threshold to secure her confirmation to the Supreme Court.
In doing so, in its 233-year history, Jackson is the first Black woman to ever become a justice on the high court.
Jackson was first put forward to become the 116th Associate justice of the United States Supreme Court on 25 February 2022 after Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement.
She was nominated for the role by current US President Joe Biden.
In a statement released by the White House, Jackson was called 'one of [the] nation's brightest legal minds' with 'an unusual breadth of experience' in the country's legal system
Prior to the vote, in order for all 50 Democratic senators to support Jackson's confirmation into the Supreme Court, senior US senator Kyrsten Sinema - who had been the only Democrat who hadn't announced how she would vote - revealed that she would be voting in favour of Jackson.
She said: "Judge Jackson brings to the bench a wealth of knowledge, more trial court experience than all other current supreme court justices combined, a commitment to respect precedent, and a proven independent, pragmatic approach to judicial decisions.
“Judge Jackson has exceptional qualifications and will serve our country well in the years to come.”
Statement on Voting to Confirm the Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/gW56qH8ccz
— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) April 7, 2022
Minority leader senator Mitch McConnell argued that Jackson's confirmation into the Supreme Court would be an example of Biden's administration letting 'the radicals run the show'.
He said: "When it came to one of the most consequential decisions a president can make, a lifetime appointment to our highest court, the Biden administration let the radicals run the show.
"The far left got the reckless inflationary spending they wanted. The far left has gotten the insecure border they wanted. And today, the far left will get the Supreme Court justice they wanted."
However, senate Republicans Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voted in Jackson's favour.
Congratulations to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman and first public defender on the Supreme Court.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 7, 2022
Without the commitment of voters and organizers to take back the Senate and White House, this historic moment might not have happened.
Well done. Onward. pic.twitter.com/kZxqzCA8Pp
Today's vote - which was overseen by Vice-President Kamala Harris, the first black woman to hold the office - ended up as 53 to 47.
Majority leader Chuck Schumer called the victory a 'joyous day' for the country, reflecting on 'how many millions of kids in generations past could have benefited from such a role model'.
He said: "Even in the darkest times, there are bright lights. Today is one of the brightest lights. Let us hope it’s a metaphor, an indication of many bright lights to come.”
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