A black woman becomes a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time. The Senate endorsed Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court position on Thursday. US President Joe Biden nominated the 51-year-old judge in late February. The liberal lawyer received 53 out of 100 votes in the Senate. Three moderate Republicans voted with the 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Jackson’s confirmation does not change the conservative majority on the Supreme Court – it replaces Liberal judge Stephen Breyer, 83, who announced his retirement. Democrat Biden had described Jackson as one of the “smartest lawyers in our country” and spoke of a “historic candidate”. Once confirmed, Jackson has yet to be sworn in.
Trump could seat three judges
Breyer’s departure allowed Biden to take his first seat on the Supreme Court. His Republican predecessor Donald Trump was able to seat three judges there. Six of the nine judges are currently considered conservative. With its decisions on controversial issues such as abortion, immigration or same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court repeatedly sets the course for American society.
Appointed for life
Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Their selection is always a hard-fought political process. As part of her confirmation process, Jackson had a brief exchange of blows on convictions with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. “What exactly is your faith?” Graham asked the nominee Tuesday (local time), according to Kathpress, during the Senate committee hearing. When she replied that she was a non-denominational Protestant, Graham wondered if she “could fairly judge a Catholic.” She can judge anyone fairly, argued Brown Jackson.
The last only African American of the nine chief justices is conservative Clarence Thomas. The 73-year-old was taken to a hospital late last week due to “flu-like symptoms”, where he was treated with antibiotics administered intravenously. He was released Friday, according to US media.
Jackson was born in the US capital Washington and grew up in Florida. She has served as a judge on the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Capital District since 2013 and 2021. She attended Harvard University and has also worked as a lawyer and public defender. President Biden called her one of “the smartest lawyers in our country.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
