First black woman sworn in as US Supreme Court justice

Last Thursday (30), the United States once again wrote an unforgettable page in its history when Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Katanji Brown Jackson is the first black woman to serve on the US Supreme Court – Photo: AFP/ND

The appointment of the 51-year-old by Democratic President Joe Biden marks the first time in 233 years that the nation’s Supreme Court has a non-white majority.

Although his confirmation is a milestone, it will not change the conservative majority of six justices against the three progressive tone on the court created during the administration of Republican President Donald Trump (2017-2021).

The court has come under fire for its recent rulings, which expand the public’s right to bear arms, eliminate the federal right to abortion and limit the government’s power to regulate greenhouse gases.

Jackson’s “historic swearing-in” “represents a huge step forward for our nation, for all the young black women who now see themselves reflected on our Supreme Court, and for all of us Americans,” Biden said in a statement this week.

“The Supreme Court has just won a colleague with the world-class intellect, the dignified character and the strongest credentials imaginable that the American people expect from a judge,” he added.

In the same tone, Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the (lower) Democratic Party in the US House of Representatives, also spoke in a statement.

“With Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sitting on the Supreme Court, our nation is taking a historic step toward realizing our highest ideals,” said Nancy Pelosi.

“In the midst of this court’s vicious assault on the health, liberty and security of Americans, he will be a much-needed force for equal justice for all,” he said.

Jackson was sworn in with 53-47 bipartisan approval for his first Supreme Court nominee and the support of three Senate Republicans during the grueling confirmation process.

The nomination gives the Biden administration a chance to bounce back from a string of bad news in recent months, with polls pointing to an approval rating below 40% amid runaway inflation ahead of midterm elections in November.

It also allowed Biden to show he could trust black voters, who saved his stunning 2020 primary campaign.