President Joe Biden has selected Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The White House announced the president's nomination Friday morning, calling Jackson an "exceptionally qualified and historic nominee." If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
The president, who in 2020 promised to name the first Black woman to the court, tweeted about the nomination, saying that Jackson is "one of our nation's brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice."
Jackson, who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, 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.
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.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
