Currents News Staff

When President Biden nominated the first black woman to the Supreme Court last month, Ketanji Brown Jackson gave a nod to another trailblazer.

“Today I proudly stand on Judge Motley’s shoulders, sharing not only her birthday, but also her steadfast and courageous commitment to equal justice,” said Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. 

Jackson referenced Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman to serve as a federal judge.

Now Jackson is poised to inspire another generation of black women in law and shape the nation’s highest court.

“For too long our government, our courts, haven’t looked like America,” said President Joe Biden. 

Republicans aren’t expected to make Jackson’s Supreme Court hearings too messy, the court will still have a 6-3 Conservative majority after Jackson takes her seat. But some areas of her legal career could draw scrutiny.

“It will be a respectful, deep dive into her record,” said Rep. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, “which I think is entirely appropriate for a lifetime appointment.”

As Jackson has made the rounds on Capitol Hill, GOP senators have indicated her time as a public defender will be one of those areas, including work representing detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay and her views on the role of race in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Democrats will emphasize Jackson’s credentials, and character at a groundbreaking moment.

“This is her fourth time before the senate judiciary committees,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin. “In three previous times she came through with flying colors.”