Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson made history Thursday as the first Black woman confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The final Senate tally was 53-47, with all 50 Democrats voting to support Jackson and three Republicans casting yes votes. The GOP votes came from Sens. Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; and Mitt Romney of Utah.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman elected to her position, presided over the vote.
“I’m overjoyed,” Harris said after the ceremony. “There’s so much about what’s happening in the world now that is presenting some of the worst of this moment and human behaviors, and then we have a moment like this that I think reminds us that there is still so much yet to accomplish and that we can accomplish, including a day like today that is so historic and so important.”
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President Joe Biden selected Brown on Feb. 25, following his campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to the high court. Jackson is the first Supreme Court justice to have worked as a public defender. She also served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Sentencing Commission. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1992 before attending Harvard Law School, where she was the editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated cum laude in 1996.
On Thursday, famous women in politics and entertainment celebrated Brown’s historic confirmation.
“Without the commitment of voters and organizers to take back the Senate and White House, this historic moment might not have happened. Well done. Onward,” tweeted former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Added former first lady Michelle Obama on Twitter. “I was so moved to see Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed this afternoon. Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride—a sense of joy—to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will be a part of the highest court in the land.”
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams tweeted: “Anchored by intellectual rigor, compassion and fortitude, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joins the U.S. Supreme Court and the annals of history. We are grateful for service that brought her here and the work yet to come. Congratulations, America!”
Scandal star Kerry Washington captioned a photo of Brown on Twitter: “KENTAJI BROWN JACKSON. That is all. #InKBJWeTrust.”
Actress and comedian Robin Thede tweeted a news article about Brown and included the caption: “You know what time it is.”
The Image above is courtesy of Shutterstock.
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