*The U.S. Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was dually one of the top news stories and a significant history-making moment in 2022. This accomplishment is worthy of celebration and remembrance. It is recounted here to bear witness for the historic record:
On Friday, April 8, 2022, Pres. Joe Biden officially introduced “Justice in waiting” Ketanji Brown Jackson at the White House. Jackson was surrounded by cheering family and supporters who radiated immense pride and joy. She reserved the momentous occasion to express thanks to a bevy of supporters who thrust her into the history-making position while illustrating the significance of her being chosen for the new role. A woman who has worked in relative anonymity until recently, Jackson was celebrated for having the dignity and focus to take the most premium gavel, hoping she will balance the scales of justice in America, especially for racial minorities.
In her remarks, the first Black woman to secure the SCOTUS job stated to an audience packed with family, friends, and lawmakers: “It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. But WE made it. All of us.”
A day after the historic Senate confirmation her presence on the South Lawn of the White House represented what is possible for American women who continue to push through glass ceilings in workplaces.
With elation beaming through her wire-rimmed glasses and heartfelt tears moistening her handkerchief, she made an effort to thank everyone from her dear friend, Northwestern law professor Lisa Fairfax who was a character witness during the confirmation hearing and was in attendance at the gathering, to the American people who offered prayers and support for her nomination to manifest.
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Her parents, daughters, brother, and husband, looked on ripe with happiness for the next chapter in her career.
She credited her husband, Dr. Patrick Jackson for having faith in her when she did not have it in herself.
“Patrick, thank you for everything you’ve done for me over these past 25 years of our marriage. You’ve done everything to support and encourage me. And it is you who’ve made this moment possible. Your … your steadfast love gave me the courage to move in this direction. I don’t know that I believed you when you said that I could do this, but now I do.”
The former public defender added to her gratitude that her appointment by the 46th president was one generation removed from segregation, planting a beam of hope in the minds of young girls and women who aspire to break barriers.
Jackson started by indirectly answering a question about how religious she is that was asked during the hearing. She pointedly prioritized expressing thanks to God. The non-denominational protestant said, “First, as always, I have to give thanks to God for delivering me as promised — (applause) — and for sustaining me throughout this nomination and confirmation process. As I said at the outset, I have come this far by faith, and I know that I am truly blessed. To the many people who have lifted me up in prayer since the nomination, thank you. ”
The path to the High Court for Jackson was paved with partisan rancor. The three days that she sat before the Senate Judiciary panel in a preliminary hearing had an extraordinarily contentious tone. No other candidate before her was grilled with 2500 questions, many of which were irreverent.
Pres. Joe Biden remarked: “I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I knew the person I nominated would be put through a painful and difficult confirmation process. But I have to tell you, what Judge Jackson was put through was well beyond that. There was verbal abuse. The anger. The constant interruptions. The most vile, baseless assertions and accusations.”
Judge Jackson seemingly felt the weight that her ancestors endured, and at the same time, the relief of being the embodiment of unborn hope. She quoted late poet Maya Angelou’s poem, capturing the essence of the moment: “I am the dream and the hope of the slave,” she said, followed by applause. The words come from Angelou’s “Still I Rise.” These truth-saturated words settled over the crowd like a thick mist of reality — to which no other woman currently on the court could relate.
History, both good and bad, is often made at the White House, then Press Secretary Jen Psaki commented in the daily briefing, joking that she had to fight back the “ugly cry” over how she personally felt about the moment.
“This was a joyful day in history,” she said.
Mrs. Jackson thanked the White House for their support having defended her as an ironclad nominee with incomparable qualifications.
Vice President Kamala Harris who presided over the Senate confirmation in her capacity as the President of the Senate shared that she wrote a note to her goddaughter inspired by Jackson’s ascension.
“So, as a point of personal privilege, I will share with you, Judge Jackson, that when I presided over the Senate confirmation vote yesterday, while I was sitting there, I drafted a note to my goddaughter.” She went on to say in the 3-line note on Vice Presidential letterhead she wrote to Helena, “I told her what I knew this would mean for her life and all that she has in terms of potential.”
Judge Jackson sat on the SCOTUS bench for the first time on October 3, 2022.
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