DETROIT, Mich. (WWJ) — President Joe Biden has formally selected federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The president announced his nomination Friday afternoon, saying Jackson has "a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people." If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
"It is my honor to introduce to the country a daughter of former public school teachers, proven consensus builder and an accomplished lawyer and distinguished jurist, on one of the nation's most prestigious courts. My nominee for the United States Supreme Court is Ketanji Brown Jackson," Biden said.
The president went on to describe Jackson, who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, as someone with extraordinary character, uncompromising integrity, a strong moral compass and the courage to stand up for what she thinks is right.
Jackson thanked the president, saying she was humbled by the extraordinary honor of the nomination.
"If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded will inspire future generations of Americans," she said.
Biden, who in 2020 promised to name the first Black woman to the court, earlier tweeted about his nomination, saying that Jackson is "one of our nation's brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice."
Jackson accepted the president's offer to be his nominee in a call Thursday night, according to CNN.
If her nomination is confirmed, Jackson would be the current court's second Black justice — Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other — and just the third in history, according to the Associated Press. She would also be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, and her confirmation would mean that for the first time four women would sit together on the nine-member court.
Jackson's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker, the AP reported.
"The Senate should move forward with a fair and timely hearing and confirmation," the White House said.
Jackson, 51, is a Harvard Law School and Harvard University graduate. She served on the DC federal district court for eight years, from 2013 to 2021.
Among other achievements, Jackson served as a clerk for the same judge she would replace on the court, Justice Stephen Breyer.
During her confirmation to the circuit court, she received unanimous support from Senate Democrats and three Republicans, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Lindsey Graham.
"Judge Jackson has broad experience across the legal profession – as a federal appellate judge, a federal district court judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and as a federal public defender. Judge Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate with votes from Republicans as well as Democrats three times," the White House said.
Former President Barack Obama congratulated Jackson on Twitter, saying her confirmation would help young Black women "believe they can be anything they want to be."
Biden interviewed at least two other candidates for the job: Judge J. Michelle Childs, a federal judge in South Carolina; and Leondra Kruger, a justice on the California Supreme Court, The Washington Post reported.
If confirmed, Jackson will replace Justice Breyer, who announced his retirement last month after more than 27 years on the bench. He was appointed in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton.
The court's new term begins on Oct. 3.
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