Ketanji Brown Jackson was appointed judge of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. She will be the first black woman ever elected to this position, writes ‘s US correspondent Iida Tikka.
7.4. 21:21 • Updated 7.4. 21:22
WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate has confirmed the judge Ketanji Brown Jackson choice to the Supreme Court of the country.
Jackson will replace the retiring judge Justice Breyerin. Breyer belonged to the liberal wing of the court, so the balance of power in the Supreme Court will not change – Conservative judges will continue to have a clear 6-3 majority.
The U.S. Supreme Court exercises significant power in the U.S. legal system. It assesses the constitutionality of laws, ie whether citizens’ constitutional rights are exercised in lower court decisions.
In practice, therefore, the Supreme Court can overturn laws passed by Congress or presidential ordinances unconstitutional. Supreme Court judgments are valid throughout the country, and often the right to take precedents that determine the direction of state-level legislation.
The appointment of Judge Jackson is historic, for she will be the first black woman ever elected to the Supreme Court. President Joe Biden promised during his election campaign that when he became elected president, he would appoint the best dark-skinned woman to the judiciary. Of the 115 judges of the Supreme Court, 108 have been white men.
Jackson’s choice is significant for another reason. He has had a long career as a public defender, that is, as a defense attorney for those Americans who cannot otherwise afford defense. Very few public defenders have ever been able to advance in their careers as judges, let alone the Supreme Court.
Both Jackson’s skin color and his career have brought to the surface a debate about the importance of representation.
According to surveys (you switch to another service)the gender and color of the judge are relevant in cases concerning gender equality or minority rights. In addition, the representation of all sections of the population in the judiciary increases the credibility of the court in the eyes of the citizens.
Still Ketanji Brown Jackson the appointment is unlikely to save the Supreme Court from an ever-worsening crisis in which political polarization determines the course of the appointment process.
So it was with Jackson. During the nomination hearing, several Republican politicians focused on issues that are not related to the duties of a judge but concern issues that upset the people – Senator Ted Cruz among other things, took an exam on the contents of Jackson’s children’s book on racism.
Prior to the nomination vote, many Republican senators also gave speeches praising Jackson, but said they would vote against the nomination. In the end, only three Republicans voted in favor of the appointment.
Extreme politicization is seen as already threatening the credibility of the Supreme Court and thus of the entire judicial system.