Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden announced his plan to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring a stellar record of accomplishment to the Supreme Court and an exemplary background that reflects the Biden administration’s commitment to nominating exceptional judges at every level. Judge Jackson’s distinguished career includes an outstanding record of service as both a federal appeals court judge and federal district court judge and a reputation as an impartial jurist with a commitment to equal justice.
Her nomination comes at a critical time, as a right-wing majority has hijacked the court to gut federal voting rights protections, undermine labor unions, and very likely overturn abortion rights that have stood for half a century. This extremist majority is also poised to end affirmative action in college admissions, limit what the federal government can do to curb climate change, and further erode the separation between church and state. It’s time to end this conservative judicial activism run amuck.
Judge Jackson has shown dedication to standing up for the civil and human rights of all Americans; for equity in criminal sentencing reform; for workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively; and for our very system of democracy, in which even the president is not above the law. Judge Jackson’s professional background, which includes time spent as a public defender, would be a welcome addition to the court and bring a needed perspective to its decisions. Her historic nomination as the first Black woman to serve on the high court underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to appointing extraordinarily qualified and fair-minded jurists who will help ensure that the Supreme Court works for all of us.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].