Dear John,
“Today is a day of joy. Today we should rejoice. President Biden nominated someone we have heard who is extraordinarily talented, who also happens to be a Black woman.”
– Senator Cory Booker
As Chairman Richard Durbin said at the outset of the hearing, “today is a proud day for America.” This week’s hearings introduce Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman ever nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, to the nation. The Senate Judiciary Committee — and millions of people at home — got to see what we all know: Judge Jackson is an eminently qualified judge who will be a remarkable justice.
Judge Jackson clearly shines as a nominee, and she will make evident over the coming days how she will uphold justice for all as a member of the Supreme Court. Celebrate this extraordinary nominee with a donation to AFJ to ensure we will soon be able to say: “Justice Jackson.”
Below are five takeaways from today’s hearing:
1. Judge Jackson hit a home run.
In a heartfelt opening statement, Judge Jackson spoke powerfully about her expertise, experience, and deep love for the Constitution and our country. Centering mentors, family, and dear friends as the backbone of her success, she thanked her parents for a strong foundation and her debate coach for instilling the belief that she could achieve anything. Judge Jackson vowed to “work productively to support and defend the Constitution and this grand experiment of American democracy.”
2. This is a historic nomination.
Several Senators noted the monumental moment. Senator Padilla remarked that Judge Jackson is “blazing a trail that your grandparents would have thought unfathomable, but your daughters and my sons will view as natural.” Senator Hirono added, “It’s about time our highest court better reflects the country it serves. It’s about time that Black women and girls across the country can finally see someone who looks like them sitting on the highest court, making decisions that will impact their lives, and they will know that it is possible for them to do the same.”
3. We heard about Judge Jackson’s life story and professional experiences.
She comes from a family of public servants. Her parents, Johnny and Ellery Brown, attended segregated primary schools, graduated from historically Black colleges and universities, and became public school teachers. Her brother worked as a police officer in Baltimore and served two tours of duty with the U.S. Army in the Middle East. One of her uncles was a detective, and another was the chief of police in Miami. Judge Jackson followed in her family’s footsteps, dedicating herself to a career in public service and the pursuit of equal justice under law. As Senator Leahy, speaking as a former prosecutor, said, “Her background as a federal public defender would bring an informed perspective on our criminal justice system to the Supreme Court.”
4. Democrats talked about the stakes.
Who sits as a justice on the Court has direct impact on the rights and liberties of every person. Democrats made clear what the stakes are to everyday people. As Senator Padilla said, “only a small percentage of [the Supreme Court’s] cases will ever be highlighted in the history books . . .. but the choices of the Supreme Court will certainly shape the future of labor rights, voting rights, women’s rights, criminal justice, immigration, technology, environmental protection, and so much more.”
5. While Democrats focused on Judge Jackson’s unimpeachable qualifications and the impact to real Americans, Republicans made clear there is virtually nothing to attack in Judge Jackson’s record. Instead, they spent their time talking about almost everything but Judge Jackson.
At times it seemed like George W. Bush nominees that AFJ opposed nearly two decades ago (like Miguel Estrada and Janice Rogers Brown) got more airtime than Judge Jackson. Republicans harped on imagined grievances, relitigating the confirmation hearings for Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh, among others. They talked about the so-called “breakdown of society,” the crime rate, OSHA’s regulation of ladders, efforts to “pack” the Court, their own podcasts, critical race theory, the 1619 Project, transgender athletes, and “dark money” “radical” groups that support Judge Jackson. What they talked little about was Judge Jackson’s record or in any way suggest she was not qualified to serve on the Court.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow at 9AM ET, senators will begin their questioning of Judge Jackson with thirty-minute rounds per senator. Follow along with us as we live tweet the proceedings @AFJustice, using our unparalleled research and expertise on Judge Jackson’s record and on the courts to give context. You can stream each day’s hearings on the Senate Judiciary Committee site.
Thanks for sharing a historic day with us,
Alliance for Justice
