Federal judicial nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson is on a path to the nation’s highest court, reports say. Judge Jackson was among President Joe Biden’s first round of judicial nominees and was previously vetted for a seat on the Supreme Court bench during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Judge Jackson served as a district court judge in Washington, D.C. after being appointed by Obama in 2013. She’s expected to take US Attorney General Merrick Garland’s seat on the Washington D.C. court of appeals.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Jackson’s resume paired with her most recent nomination would only further her potential to make history as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. If Justice Stephen Breyer, 82, retires while Joe Biden is president, Jackson may be a top candidate to take his place. She served as Breyer’s law clerk over 20 years ago.
Judge Jackson brings a unique experience to the federal court system having previously worked as a public defender. The Harvard-educated lawyer also has a track record of addressing disparities in the criminal justice system.
“That’s an asset,” Rachel Barkow, a New York University law professor and former colleague of Jackson told Bloomberg. “We just haven’t had people with that experience on there.” Barkow and Jackson worked together on the US Sentencing Commission.
Jackson, a native of Miami, Florida, was among the three Black women nominated by Biden last week for federal appointments.
During the hearings to nominate Jackson in 2013, Justice Breyer is quoted saying Jackson is “brilliant ant. She is a mix of common sense, thoughtfulness. She is decent. She is very smart and has the mix of skills and experience we need on the bench.
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