Jackson, a federal high court judge, was confirmed in the Senate for life by a 53-47 vote Thursday as a landmark for the United States and a political victory for Democratic President Joe Biden, who nominated her in February. Jackson, 51, will replace retired Judge Steven Breyer, 83, later this year in the Liberal bloc of a conservative 6-3 majority. “It took 232 years and 115 previous appointments to select a black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court,” Jackson said at a White House South Lawn event with American flags fluttering in the background. “But we did it – we did it – all of us, all of us,” he said. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Biden has vowed to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court as a presidential candidate, if given the chance. “We will look back and see this as a moment of real change in American history,” Biden said, as Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first black and Asian American to hold the post, step in with him. . Black women are a key Democratic constituency and helped Biden run the party in 2020 with a victory in his crucial South Carolina primary. Jackson mentioned another famous black woman, the late poet Maya Angelou, describing her own historic rise to the country’s highest court. “Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave me, I am the slave’s dream and hope,” said Jackson, referring to the American slavery heritage. “In my family, it only took a generation to go from separation to the United States Supreme Court.” Harris noted that Jackson’s confirmation also means that four women will be serving together in the Supreme Court for the first time. The outdoor setting was chosen in part as a nod to the safety of COVID-19 amid rising cases in the Washington area and a number of leading Democrats being infected. With a standing ovation from the public, Jackson thanked Biden and promised to rule independently as a justice “without fear or favor”, while aiming to uphold the rule of law. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris applaud US President Joe Biden during a celebration of Judge Jackson’s confirmation as the first black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court in South Lawn, White House, Washington. USA, April 8, 2022. REUTERS / Evelyn Hockstein read more Jackson is set to replace Breyer at the end of his current term in office, usually in late June. All but three of the 115 judges who served on the Supreme Court were white, with two black members, including incumbent Judge Clarence Thomas, and one Hispanic, incumbent Judge Sonia Sotomayor. PAINFUL PROCESS Biden said he knew his Supreme Court nominee would face a arduous and difficult confirmation process. “What was presented to Judge Jackson was far beyond that – there was verbal abuse, anger, constant interruptions, the most vulgar, baseless allegations and accusations. In the face of it all, Judge Jackson showed the incredible character and integrity that he has – calm “, Biden added. During her confirmation hearings in March, some Republican senators followed hostile lines of inquiry, including accusing her of being too lenient as a judge in convicting child pornography offenders. Jackson said she has received notes of support, including from children. “And our kids are telling me they see now more than ever that here in America anything is possible,” Jackson said. Biden is suffering in the polls, with high inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raising geopolitical concerns. Jackson’s confirmation could be a necessary shake-up to excite black voters and other left-wing voters ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections, in which Democrats risk losing control of one or both houses of Congress. A Reuters / Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday found that Biden’s public approval rating rose to 45% this week, up 3 percentage points amid stronger support from his Democratic Party. In the poll, Biden’s approval of work among minorities was 53%. read more Among those invited to the event were members of the Jackson family, various Democratic lawmakers, labor figures and advocacy groups. Biden thanked the three Republican senators who broke up with their party to vote for Jackson: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney. They did not attend the ceremony. The decision to hold the event outdoors comes after former President Donald Trump’s 2020 nominee for Supreme Court justice, Amy Connie Barrett, was transformed into a COVID-19 superstar event, influencing many Republicans who attended. During his four years in office, Trump was able to appoint three judges, who together moved the court to the right. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Nandita Bose, Alexandra Alper and Jeff Mason. Additional references by Doina Chiacu and Jason Lange. Editing by Will Dunham, Richard Pullin and Andrea Ricci Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
