Biden introduces Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Supreme Court nominee

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Friday that he will nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court.

“For too long our government, our courts, haven’t looked like America,” Biden said in an event at the White House. “I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation.”

If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to serve on the court. At 51, she would also be the second-youngest justice on the current court (Justice Amy Coney Barrett turned 50 in January) and the first justice since Thurgood Marshall with significant experience as a defense lawyer.

As the successor to Breyer, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, Jackson would not change the court’s current 6-to-3 conservative supermajority.

Jackson was nominated to her appeals court position just eight months ago and was confirmed in a 53-44 vote with the support of all Democrats and three Republican senators. Only David Souter, appointed by President George W. Bush, came to the Supreme Court with less time on the federal appeals court — under five months in his case.

Jackson will need a simple majority in the Senate in order to secure confirmation. Although she earned some Republican votes last year, there were early indications Friday that her Supreme Court confirmation process would be more challenging. (Read more)