Months ago, Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated by Joe Biden to serve on the Supreme Court. Her nomination came after Justice Stephen Breyer announced his decision to retire from the court.
Jackson, during the nomination process, made headlines for her response to a question from Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn asked Jackson if she would be able to define the word “woman.”
To this end, Jackson said she wouldn’t be able to provide a definition for this word, seeing as she isn’t a biologist.
Now, on Thursday, Jackson’s going to be officially sworn in as the latest Supreme Court justice, according to The Hill.
What to Know About Jackson’s Swearing-In
Jackson will make history, seeing as she’ll be the very first African-American woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. With Justice Breyer set to retire from the bench at noon, Jackson’s swearing-in will follow immediately thereafter.
At this time, Jackson’s going to be one of the three liberal justices on the court, rather than adding to the current six conservative ones. Furthermore, Jackson being sworn in comes less than a week after the Supreme Court voted to take down Roe v. Wade.
NEW: Justice Stephen Breyer will retire in the next 24 hours and Ketanji Brown Jackson will be sworn in as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) June 29, 2022
Many Democrats are happy about her successful nomination to the highest court in the land. Before being chosen by Biden and approved by the US Senate, Jackson worked as a public defender and even as the US Sentencing Commission vice-chair under the Obama administration.
Conservatives, on the other hand, have raised some concerns about Jackson’s past as a judge where she handed down very lenient sentences to criminals who committed serious offenses.
The infamous “woman” exchange with Blackburn also didn’t go over well in the opinion of many conservatives.
Debates About the Supreme Court
After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, nationwide debates on the Supreme Court, its standing, and even its legitimacy have taken place.
Jackson is joining the court as some Democrats call for it to be dismantled altogether. Others want the Supreme Court to be expanded so that the current conservative majority is diluted and Democrats can get what they want.
NEW: Justice Breyer has sent a letter to President Biden informing him that his retirement will be effective 24 hours from now: at noon on Thursday, June 30. pic.twitter.com/3nLsKkPKCB
— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) June 29, 2022
Some Americans are even warning the Supreme Court makes its decisions on partisan, political, and personal views, rather than on the basis of upholding the Constitution.
This comes as many rulings, as of late, involved all six conservatives justices voting in favor, while all three liberal judges vote in the opposite manner.
Thus far, it remains to be seen how Jackson’s presence on the Supreme Court impacts the nationwide conversations surrounding this institution.
What do you think about Ketanji Jackson’s swearing in to the Supreme Court? Let us know in the comments area below what you believe the future of the highest court in the land holds.
