The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, marking a historic moment as she is the first Black female justice in the nation’s highest court. The confirmation also gave President Joe Biden bipartisan endorsement as he promised to diversify the Supreme Court.
Jackson was confirmed in a 53-47 vote with the majority of votes from the Democratic party and three votes from the Republican party. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the first Black woman in her position, presided over the vote.
Along with being the first Black female justice, Jackson will be the third Black justice and the sixth woman. With Jackson’s confirmation, four of the nine justices will be women for the first time in history as she will join Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett.
Biden and Jackson watched the vote from the White House and hugged as the vote came in. Biden took to Twitter after the event to celebrate the historic moment.
“We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America,” he said. “She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her.”
Jackson will take her seat as Supreme Court Justice this summer after Justice Stephen Breyer retires, which will solidify the “liberal wing of the 6-3 conservative-dominated court,” the Associated Press reports.
During the four days of Senate hearings Jackson went through last month, she told Republicans who attempted to say she was too lenient on criminals she had sentenced in the past that she would apply the law “without fear or favor.”
Click here to read more coverage of Jackson’s Senate confirmation hearing.
