John, as our nation reckons with the possibility of the first-ever indictment of a former U.S. president, I wanted to take this moment to speak on what justice in this country is supposed to be about.

One year ago this week, I had the extraordinary privilege of being a part of the historic nomination hearings for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Facing partisan attack after partisan attack, she met every challenge and thoroughly answered every question thrown her way.

I want to share with you now what I shared with Justice Jackson one year ago today, and some of my reflections in the time since. In the entire nearly 250-year history of our country, there have been 116 Supreme Court Justices, and Justice Jackson is the first Black woman. And she is so much more than just her race and gender — a parent, a daughter, a sister, a public defender, a judge.

Last year I told Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson that she has earned this. She is worthy. She is a great American. These words remain as true as ever, and part of why I am so proud of this next point:

During the Biden administration, the Senate has confirmed more Black women to the federal judiciary than under all previous administrations — combined.

Federal judges who have earned their positions of public trust. Worthy defenders of our Constitution. Great Americans, all.

John, there is a love in this country that is extraordinary. In her testimony, Justice Jackson admitted it about her parents — speaking for so many millions. They love this nation, even though this country didn’t always love them back. There were laws in this country that would have prevented Justice Jackson from marrying her husband — just in the last generation. But that didn’t stop her, or her ancestors.

Her hero, Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman ever appointed to the federal judiciary, faced extraordinary obstacles. When she came out of law school, law firms wouldn’t even hire her because she was a woman. Did she become bitter? No. Instead, she used the very Constitution of this nation to lift all of us. She wanted America to be America. As Langston Hughes wrote:

“O, let America be America again — The land that never has been yet — And yet must be — the land where every man is free…I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath — America will be!”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and I are where we are because of generations who came before, who said to this country, “You may not love me yet, but I’m going to make this nation live up to its promise — its hope.” One year ago today, Justice Jackson represented that hope to me. Today, we can take heart with growing confidence:

"America will be!"

Love,

Cory