Friend,

Today, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only is Judge Jackson an eminently qualified jurist, she will be the first Black woman justice in our nation’s history. We celebrate this historic step toward equal justice for all.

Judge Jackson does not yet have an extensive record on church-state separation. Throughout the hearings and confirmation process, Americans United will continue to closely examine Judge Jackson’s record on this issue.

The separation of church and state is the cornerstone of religious freedom in America. Yet, we currently have a conservative Supreme Court majority set on eroding it.

We need a justice who will defend this foundational American principle. We’re hopeful that Judge Jackson will distinguish herself as a champion for church-state separation on the Court.

I know I don’t have to tell you that term after term, and increasingly so lately, the Supreme Court decides critical cases about religious freedom. We need justices who protect all of us, understand all of us, and reflect all of us. We need justices who understand that our Constitution requires religious freedom to be a shield and never a sword to harm or discriminate against others.

We hope for more justices who, like Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Sonia Sotomayor, defend our civil rights and represent and reflect the diversity of America. Judge Jackson has the promise and the potential to be a justice in their image.

Thank you for being such a committed ally in this fight. Our work to advocate for a Supreme Court that protects the foundational principle of church-state separation depends on your support and we are grateful every day for your loyalty and partnership.

Sincerely,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO