Ketanji Brown Jackson and the Power of Representation
Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court could bring a valuable new viewpoint to the highest court in the federal judiciary of America.
On February 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated the first black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court, replacing Justice Stephen Breyer. She will be the 116th associate on the Supreme Court. Jackson graduated from Harvard Law School, where she was the editor for the Harvard Law Review. Before being nominated for the Supreme Court, Jackson served as a U.S. Federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit judge. She also has eight years as a trial court judge in the U.S. District Court in D.C. and fifteen years as a public defender. Jackson worked as a clerk under three federal judges; Judge Patti Saris, Judge Bruce Selya, and Stephen Breyer (the latter of whom she just replaced). She worked for a bipartisan agency created by Congress to reduce disparities in sentencing. Later Jackson was appointed vice-chair and commissioner by former President Barack Obama.
Jackson has had crucial experience with significant cases, including Rothe Development, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Defense, in which she ruled allowing the Small Business Association to ensure federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Equal Rights Center v. Uber Technologies, Inc., where Jackson ruled that Uber could be liable under the Americans with Disabilities Act for failure to provide transportation for people with disabilities. She stated that Donald McGahn must comply with the impeachment investigation for former President Donald Trump in the Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn trial.
Jackson’s presence on the Supreme Court would be historic for several reasons. Not only would she be the first black female Supreme Court Justice, but her appointment appeared from a context in which black women remain belittled under state and federal law. Furthermore, Jackson has more experience as a federal trial judge than any other sitting justice. With three of the nine justices being former prosecutors, Jackson’s diverse defense background brings a new perspective to the cases. Because of the heavily right-wing sided court, Judge Jackson's voice and new perspective will change the court's dynamic historically.
Jackson has had crucial experience with significant cases, including Rothe Development, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Defense, in which she ruled allowing the Small Business Association to ensure federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Equal Rights Center v. Uber Technologies, Inc., where Jackson ruled that Uber could be liable under the Americans with Disabilities Act for failure to provide transportation for people with disabilities. She stated that Donald McGahn must comply with the impeachment investigation for former President Donald Trump in the Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn trial.
Jackson’s presence on the Supreme Court would be historic for several reasons. Not only would she be the first black female Supreme Court Justice, but her appointment appeared from a context in which black women remain belittled under state and federal law. Furthermore, Jackson has more experience as a federal trial judge than any other sitting justice. With three of the nine justices being former prosecutors, Jackson’s diverse defense background brings a new perspective to the cases. Because of the heavily right-wing sided court, Judge Jackson's voice and new perspective will change the court's dynamic historically.
Works Cited
“The Historic Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | NAACP.” NAACP, https://www.facebook.com/naacp, 17 Mar. 2022, https://naacp.org/resources/historic-nomination-ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court.
“The Historic Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | NAACP.” NAACP, https://www.facebook.com/naacp, 17 Mar. 2022, https://naacp.org/resources/historic-nomination-ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court.