Founded and established in 1789, the US Supreme Court has seen 115 justices serve. Nonetheless, diversity on the Court has been limited over the years. To make a change, Biden makes history by nominating the first Black woman on the US Supreme Court. 

The first Black woman on the US Supreme Court nominated by President Biden is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. 

Many may ask: who is she? Is she qualified? What makes her stand out? Well, besides making history in US Supreme Court history, her background in law grants her sufficient qualifications to succeed like her predecessors. 

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson had the passion to work as an attorney from early on. She attended Harvard University and obtained a degree in government. Additionally, she returned to Harvard to attend law school. Besides Justice Thurgood Marshall, she’s the only other justice to have a criminal defense background. 

In her early years of her career, she worked seven years in corporate law and served as a district judge on the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Jackson was also nominated by President Obama during his administration to serve as vice chair of the US sentencing commission from 2010-2014. Her qualifications make her stand out from many other justices because not only is she the first Black woman on the court, but is the first federal public defender to serve for the court. On top of everything, she clerked for former Justice Breyer whom she is replacing due to his retirement. 

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination isn’t only an advancement in the court for diversity, but it’s a step forward to change the court itself. 

Over the years, the Supreme Court has grown more and more conservative through past administrations. With the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020, the court became more prominently conservative as Justice Amy Coney Barrett replaced her. This new nomination is the first opportunity for President Biden to help shape the court to be less conservative. 

As the 3rd Black justice and 6th woman overall, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination, is a historic event that not only adds to the diversity of the court but had the power to change the future of the court.