Biden to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to be 1st Black woman on Supreme Court
President Biden has reportedly made his historic Supreme Court selection.
Biden has picked Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee for the Supreme Court, multiple outlets including CNN and The Associated Press reported Friday. If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
Jackson currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The Senate confirmed her to that position in a 53-44 vote in June 2021. At the time, Jackson was already thought to be a frontrunner for a Supreme Court seat. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised Jackson as "an outstanding, trailblazing nominee" with "all the qualities of a model jurist," and Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted to confirm her, The New York Times notes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I think she's qualified for the job," Graham said in 2021, per ABC News. "She has a different philosophy than I do, but it's been that way the whole time."
Jackson previously served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and she would be filling the seat vacated by Breyer, as well. He had been facing calls to retire by those on the left to ensure Biden would be able to select his replacement. During his presidential campaign, Biden vowed he would nominate a Black would to the Supreme Court, and he's expected to officially unveil Jackson's selection on Friday afternoon with a few days remaining in Black History Month.
"The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity, and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court," Biden said in January. "It's long overdue, in my view."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 1, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - broken eggs, contagious lies, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 humorously unhealthy cartoons about RFK Jr.
Cartoons Artists take on medical innovation, disease spreading, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Brodet (fish stew) recipe
The Week Recommends This hearty dish is best accompanied by a bowl of polenta
By The Week UK Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Thailand
Speed Read The law grants same-sex spouses the same rights as married heterosexual couples
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top Israeli general to resign over Oct. 7 failures
Speed Read Herzi Halevi took responsibility for his failure to prevent the attacks that sparked Israel's war in Gaza
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
80 dead in Colombia amid uptick in guerrilla fighting
Speed Read This was the country's deadliest wave of violence since the peace accords set by President Gustavo Petro in 2016
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal on track to start by Monday
Speed Read A deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages and begin a ceasefire was officially signed by representatives in Doha
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine captures first North Korean soldiers
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted videos of the men captured in Russia's Kursk region
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Lebanon selects president after 2-year impasse
Speed Read The country's parliament elected Gen. Joseph Aoun as its next leader
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US accuses Sudan rebels of genocide, sanctions chief
Speed Read Sudan has been engaged in a bloody civil war that erupted in 2023
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published