During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised that, given the opportunity, he would nominate the first Black woman to serve on the supreme court. When Justice Breyer announced his retirement in January, after nearly 28 years on the bench, Biden had his chance. In February, he named Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee.
If confirmed by the Senate, Jackson would become the first African American woman to serve on the supreme court. In a statement after the nomination, Biden said: “For too long, our government, our courts haven’t looked like America, and I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation.”
Speaking of Jackson, Biden said: “Her opinions are always carefully reasoned, tethered to precedent, and demonstrate respect for how the law impacts everyday people.”
Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University, tells Hannah Moore about the importance of the supreme court in shaping American life. As someone who was shortlisted for the role, she reflects on the historical significance of Jackson’s nomination.
Photograph: REX/Shutterstock
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