Ketanji Brown Jackson Becomes the First Black Woman Justice

The US Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, making her the first-ever black female justice. Jackson was confirmed with 53-47 votes primarily on party-line, but three Republicans voted for her.

Jackson’s place on the court is seen as a victory for President Joe Biden and his effort to diversify the US’s top court. In a post shared on Twitter, Joe Biden called the confirmation a historic moment for the nation. Biden promised to bring a black woman to the Supreme Court in the presidential election. 

“Judge Jackson's confirmation was a historic moment for our country. We have taken another step to ensure that the Supreme Court reflects America's diversity. She will be an incredible justice and I was honoured to share this moment with her” said the president in a Twitter post.

With Jackson's confirmation, four of the nine  Supreme Court judges will be women for the first time in US history. She will be the third black judge after Thurgood Marshall, who died in 1993, and Clarence Thomas, who is currently serving.

Jackson will join three other women Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barett. She will take her seat on the Supreme Court after Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer.