The US Senate confirmed on Thursday Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female Supreme Court justice, fulfilling President Biden’s campaign promise to appoint the first Black woman to the high court.
Previously announcing their support for the history-making confirmation, saying Jackson is well-qualified, Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah voted for her confirmation, making the 53-47 vote bipartisan.
During the confirmation vote presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris, House members from the Congressional Black Caucus filled the back of the Senate chamber to mark the historic day.
Following the Senate vote that he watched in the Roosevelt Room along with other White House senior staff and Jackson herself, President Biden pointed out in a tweet that Judge Jackson’s confirmation is a historic moment for the nation and an important step toward making the highest court reflect the diversity of America.
While Democrats were celebrating, reflecting on how Justice Jackson will be remembered in history, the majority of Republicans opposed Jackson on several fronts.
Based on Brown Jackson’s record, GOP Senator Ted Cruz stressed his belief that Jackson will prove to be the furthest left of any justice to have ever served on the Supreme Court.
Republicans grilled Jackson over her inability to define a “woman,” of dodging questions on whether she favors court-packing and her soft on crime sentencing record as a federal judge – including those of several child pornography offenders.
Jackson’s confirmation culminated out of a rollercoaster confirmation process marred by the combative questioning from GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham and others who accused her of being too lenient on criminals.
Democrats, on the other side, sought to highlight Jackson’s long list of achievements and praised her grace under pressure, celebrating how far she’s come as a Black woman in America.
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