After a final vote of 53-47, Judge Jackson becomes the nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to today’s historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States, Family Equality’s CEO, Stacey Stevenson, releases the following statement:
“With the historic and long overdue confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, our nation has moved one step closer to fulfilling the promise of equal justice under the law—not just for the wealthy and powerful, but for all Americans, regardless of race, background, religion, orientation, or identity.
“We are heartened to see that with bipartisan support the Senate has recognized Justice Jackson’s exceptional professional experience and established record of judicial fairness by voting to confirm the most qualified individual to the highest court in the nation. We applaud President Biden for nominating Justice Jackson and thank Leader Schumer and Senate Judiciary Chair Durbin for their leadership throughout the confirmation process.
“Justice Jackson’s groundbreaking confirmation couldn’t come at a more critical time. As our country faces unprecedented challenges to our democracy and our families (mine included) face countless threats to our freedoms—attempts to diminish racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality as well as disability, labor, and reproductive rights—we need a fair-minded jurist who is committed to applying the rule of law and has exceptional and diverse experience like Justice Jackson. This is important not just in the United States Supreme Court, but also across the federal judiciary as the Senate considers nominees to the lower federal courts.
“In 22 states, no justices on state supreme courts publicly identify as a person of color, including 11 states where people of color comprise at least 20 percent of the population. As we continue to work towards the Constitution’s promise of equality and justice for all—where my wife and our two children are reflected in and protected by the leaders of the country we live in—we must remain committed to ensuring that women, people of color, and individuals in the disability and LGBTQ+ communities are represented in all levels of the government. The confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is undoubtedly a marked step in the right direction. We are thrilled to join Justice Jackson, our movement partners, and all the communities positively impacted by this decision in celebrating this historic day!”
About Family Equality
Family Equality advances legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change. Family Equality believes every LGBTQ+ person should have the right and opportunity to form and sustain a loving family, regardless of who they are or where they live. Learn more at familyequality.org.
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Press Contact
Anna Libertin,
Chief Communications Officer/
646-880-3005 ext. 157
communications@familyequality.org