WASHINGTON (February 25, 2022)—Today, President Joe Biden announced that he will nominate federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Her nomination is an important and historic step for diversity and fairness at the country’s top court, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Below is a statement by Johanna Chao Kreilick, the president of UCS.
“Judge Jackson is an outstanding and experienced jurist who would be a strong addition to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the first Black woman nominated to be a Supreme Court justice, and the first nominee to ever serve as a public defender, Judge Jackson will also bring a new and vital perspective to the bench. If confirmed, she would be only the fifth woman and the third Black justice in the court’s 233-year history.
“The Supreme Court’s decisions have a real, meaningful effect on all of our lives, with impacts on environmental protection, civil rights, and the ability for voters to participate in free and fair elections. We hope that Judge Jackson will provide a strong voice for justice on a court that has in recent years undermined many of the policies and protections we rely on for a healthy democracy.
“Judge Jackson clerked for Justice Breyer, who she has been nominated to replace, and she was confirmed to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit by a bipartisan 53-44 vote last year. She’s ready to serve. The U.S. Senate should move swiftly to confirm Judge Jackson and ensure she can bring her talents and perspectives to bear on the important cases of the years to come.”