The United States Circuit Court of Appeals has backed U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s candidate to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the United States Supreme Court. Chambers of the Dark.
According to The Hill, the U.S. Black Chambers represents a nationwide network of 145 Black Chambers of Commerce and black-owned business organizations. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, they cited Jackson’s history working in public service as one of the reasons for their support. In her tenure as vice-chair of the United States Sentencing Commission from 2010 to 2014, Jackson was instrumental in lowering mandatory minimums for crack cocaine, in addition to serving as a public defender.
Furthermore, the group stated that Jackson’s confirmation would address a need for fair representation on the Supreme Court. Since the late Thurgood Marshall, there hasn’t been a Black liberal on the Supreme Court.
According to The Hill, which obtained a copy of Ron Busby’s letter to Democratic Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and ranking Republican member Chuck Grassley of Iowa, “the history-making qualities of this nomination are overshadowed only by Judge Jackson’s breadth of experience in our legal system, making her an exceptionally qualified choice for the role of Supreme Court Justice.”
“This diverse and broad experience in public service imbues Judge Jackson with a unique appreciation of how critical it is for the justice system to be fair and impartial,” Busby continued. “Among her colleagues and in her work, Judge Jackson has built a strong reputation for upholding the rule of law with a nonpartisan, inclusive approach to advancing a judicial system that treats all Americans fairly.”
Judge Jackson would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court if approved, fulfilling a promise Biden made during his presidential campaign. She’s been talking with senators from both parties in preparation for her confirmation hearings, which will begin on March 21.
It’s unclear whether her candidacy will receive bipartisan support. Lindsey Graham, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins, all Republicans, voted in favor of her confirmation to the United States Senate. Last year, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
According to its website, the U.S. Black Chambers is “affectionately known as the ‘National Voice of Black Businesses’” that “provides committed, visionary leadership and advocacy in the realization of economic empowerment. Through the creation of resources and initiatives, we support a network of African American Chambers of Commerce and business organizations in their work of developing and growing Black enterprises.”
Jackson has not responded to comments made by Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, who questioned why President Biden did not include her LSAT scores in his list of accomplishments at last week’s State of the Union speech. As previously noted, the conservative personality’s remarks were widely panned as another racist dog whistle and an attempt to taint what is widely regarded as spotless credentials.
