Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed to Supreme Court

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. // Photo courtesy of H2rty.

History was made on Thursday, April 7, when the 117th Senate voted 53-47 to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Justice Jackson’s ascension to the bench comes after Justice Breyer’s retirement in late January and President Joe Biden’s nomination of her on Feb. 25. Hearings began on March 21, and lasted four days. The schedule started with an introduction, then proceeded to questioning for two days and ended with a testimony from the American Bar Association, according to the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Several students spoke about the joy they felt after hearing the news. Ariana Lowe, a senior psychology and criminology double major, was excited about the announcement.

“I was relieved to hear that the vote passed [in the Senate],” Lowe said. 

The actions of both the Democratic and Republican Parties have been a prominent topic of discussion since the hearing began. One student hopes that Jackson will be an example to the next generation, because senators from the Republican Party voted for her even though she was nominated by a Democratic president. 

“[It’s] even more exciting seeing Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting yes on her confirmation,” said Michael Roller, a senior political science and public policy double major. “Their votes show a beacon of hope for those who feel the party lines have gotten far too out of hand.”

James Sample, an attorney and professor in the Maurice A. Deane School of Law, expressed hope after Jackson’s confirmation.

“Although we are living in a crisis period in which the continued thriving of democracy and equality can no longer be taken for granted, today’s confirmation is historic and provides cause for celebration,” Sample said. 

Students and faculty are also looking at what this moment means for the future.

“I think it’s a really monumental step for the American judicial system given how marginalized Black women are in this country,” Lowe said. “No matter what political opinion someone holds, this should be recognized for what it is, which is overdue representation [in] the most powerful court in the United States of America.”

Judge Jackson joins a list of firsts for the Supreme Court, such as Justice Thurgood Marshall’s confirmation as the first Black justice in 1967, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s addition to the Court in 1981 as the first female associate justice and Justice Sonia Sotomayor becoming the first Latina Justice in 2009. 

Some students think that Jackson’s confirmation will inspire young people, especially young women. 

“Seeing a woman of color on the Supreme Court is something I think American girls will look towards for ages,” Roller said.