What we learned from Biden’s appointment to the Supreme Court

Councilor Ketanji Brown Jackson for the people

Above: President Biden announces Ketanji Brown Jackson appointment. Photo courtesy of The New Yorker

February 25

Amidst the celebration and the back slapping at Friday’s White House appointment announcement lurks a grim reality — from where has the Supreme Court evolved as an institution whose mission is defending the Constitution?

Consider this career trajectory of Councilor Jackson:

First African-American woman appointed to the Supreme Court in its 235 year history.

Only defense attorney in 40 years appointed to the Supreme Court. No other Justice has served the judicial institutions as defense for the criminally accused since Thurgood Marshall.

Second black woman following (49 years age difference) the late Constance Baker Motley’s appointment to the District Court to ever have been appointed to a higher federal court.

Consider this thought experiment: add up all the years of Jackson’s trajectory: that’s 235, 40, and 49… a total of 324 years America has not seen a black woman ascend to the highest court in the nation with trial experience defending the rights of the marginalized to a fair and just outcome.