AAUW Celebrates a Historic Milestone: Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed
WASHINGTON DC – AAUW Chief Executive Officer Gloria L. Blackwell issued this statement on confirmation by the U.S. Senate of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. She will assume her position on the bench when Justice Stephen Breyer retires in June:
“We witnessed a historic and momentous occasion today when, in a bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as associate justice to the Supreme Court of the United States. As the first Black woman in this esteemed role, she will add to the breadth of insights, perspectives and life experiences on the bench—and our nation and our system of justice will be better for it. Congratulations to the soon-to-be Justice Jackson, and thank you to all the U.S. Senators who voted to confirm her.
This moment marks another major step forward for women, and the American Association of University Women is proud to have been part of that progress. Over the course of our 140-year history, our activism and advocacy have contributed to the achievement of many firsts.
We stood strong when Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman Supreme Court justice; when Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives; when Hillary Clinton ran for president as the first woman nominee of a major U.S. political party; and when Kamala Harris was elected vice president, to name just a few. These women’s accomplishments may now seem commonplace, but we must never forget the hard work and sacrifice it took to break new ground. And now Judge Jackson’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate is a landmark achievement for gender and racial equity.
It should go without saying that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has the intelligence, the integrity, the legal acumen and the sound judicial temperament that make her exceptionally qualified for a seat on the highest court in the land. But just for the record, we’ll say it again. Throughout the challenging hearings of the past month—during which she responded to more than 20 hours of questioning, submitted more than 1,500 written responses to the committee and offered every Senator the opportunity to meet in person—she displayed an unparalleled level of leadership, patience and grace.
Judge Jackson proved to the nation that her credentials are exceptional, her character is unimpeachable and her dedication to the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, unwavering. With great joy and enormous pride, we look forward to the imprint she will make on the court and on our country.”
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more and join us at www.aauw.org.