Statement on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Nomination
“We must begin to tell black women's stories because, without them, we cannot tell the story of black men, white men, white women, or anyone else in this country. The story of black women is critical because those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.”
-Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
Throughout the Supreme Court's 232-year history, there have been 115 justices who have shaped this nation. Of the 115 justices: 110 have been men, 104 have been white, 5 have been women, and 2 have been Black men. But none of the 115 justices have been Black women.
According to the U.S. Census, there are approximately 21.7 million Black women living in the United States, which is about 6% of the total population. The Supreme Court has decided on the fate of Black women many times, from whether they can send their children to de-segregated schools or whether the Voting Rights Act protects them from their states’ discriminatory voting practices. Although the Supreme Court has dealt with issues impacting Black women continuously, a Black woman has never served on the Supreme Court until now.
On February 22, 2022, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as the 116th Associate Supreme Court Justice. Judge Jackson would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and she would also be the first federal public defender.
The nomination of Judge Jackson is an extraordinary step forward for Black women in the legal profession, who make up only 2% of attorneys around the nation. If confirmed, Justice Jackson will inspire the next generation of Black women lawyers to actualize their professional dreams. She represents that all things are possible, and that Black women can, too, serve on the highest court in the land.
Judge Jackson’s nomination gives our communities hope. Often overlooked by anti-racist and feminist movements, Black women are placed at a unique interstice of our society where the compounding factors of their race and gender create a unique form of discrimination. Judge Jackson’s nomination signifies a strong step towards building a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and just legal system– for both attorneys and citizens.
We look forward to the fresh perspective that Judge Jackson will bring to the Court and hope that she will continue to fight for truth, justice, and equity. Her nomination reminds us of how far we have come and how far we have yet to go in creating a more perfect Union.
Respectfully,
The Black Law Students Association,
The Women of Color Coalition,
The Women’s Law Association