We’re making history, John:

President Biden just announced that he will nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court! After 232 years, this brilliant legal mind would be the first Black woman and the first former federal public defender to serve on our nation’s highest court.

I want to take a moment to talk with you about Judge Jackson, and what this historic nomination means.

Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Miami, Florida, where her parents—both graduates of historically black colleges and universities—were educators.

When Judge Jackson told her high school guidance counselor that she wanted to attend Harvard, the counselor suggested that she not set her “sights so high.” But that didn’t stop her—Judge Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University before attending Harvard Law School.

Judge Jackson brings much-needed diversity of experience to the Supreme Court bench: She has served as a public defender, as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and as a federal judge, where she has twice been confirmed with bipartisan support.

President Biden made a commitment to make our highest court look more like our nation—and with the nomination of Judge Jackson, we’re one step closer to making that a reality. I’m looking forward to a swift confirmation process.

With gratitude,
Kirsten