Washington For the first time, a black woman becomes a judge on the US Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson for the office of Supreme Court on Thursday. US President Joe Biden nominated the 51-year-old judge at the end of February. The liberal lawyer got 53 of the 100 votes in the Senate. Three moderate Republicans voted with the 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Jackson’s confirmation does not change anything regarding the conservative majority on the Supreme Court – it replaces the liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring.
The Democrat Biden had described Jackson as one of the “cleverest lawyers in our country” and spoke of a “historic candidate”. Once confirmed, Jackson has yet to be sworn in. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed for life. Their selection is always a hard-fought political process.
Judge Breyer’s departure allowed Biden to take his first seat on the Supreme Court. His Republican predecessor Donald Trump was able to place three judges there. Six of the nine judges are currently considered conservative.
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With its decisions on controversial issues such as abortion, immigration or same-sex marriages, the Supreme Court repeatedly sets the course for US society.
Republicans: Too much leniency to offenders
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote: “In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, there has never been a black woman holding the title of judge. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first – and I believe the first of many to come.”
Jackson said at the Senate hearings in March: “I stand here on the shoulders of generations of Americans who have never had an opportunity like this. I hope that inspires confidence and inspires people to understand that our dishes are like them.”
US Senate appoints Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
At the Senate hearing, Republicans accused Jackson of having judged criminals too leniently in her career. The lawyer rejected that. Arch-conservative Senator Ted Cruz said Jackson will be “the most extreme and left-wing judge to ever serve on the Supreme Court.” Cruz warned that “this judge will vote to abolish our right to free speech, will vote to abolish our right to freedom of religion, will vote to abolish our Second Amendment.” The last point relates to the right to bear arms.
Jackson becomes the 116th female Supreme Court judge
Jackson had underlined her independence and impartiality at the Senate hearing. She will be the 116th Supreme Court judge. According to an overview by CNN, 108 white men, two black men, four white women and one Latina have served as judges on the United States Supreme Court. Currently, Clarence Thomas, an African American, and Sonia Sotomayor, a Latina, sit on the Supreme Court.
Jackson followed the Senate vote with Biden in the White House, the US government said. During the campaign, Biden promised to nominate a black woman for the Supreme Court. Jackson has been a judge since 2013, and since 2021 on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Capital District. She studied at Harvard University and has also worked as an attorney and public defender.
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