FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2022

Contact: William Lutz | lutz@iwpr.org | (202) 684-7534

History is Made! Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is First Black Woman Confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court!

Washington, D.C. — The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) CEO and President C. Nicole Mason today celebrated the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever sit on the nation’s highest court.

“It is not every day that we get to witness civil rights history unfold before our very eyes, but today we do,” said Mason. “Judge Jackson is the first Black woman ever confirmed to serve on our nation’s highest court, marking another important milestone in the ongoing struggle for racial equity. The fact that her nomination received bi-partisan support in the Senate is only further testament to her eminent qualifications and the historic nature of her nomination.

“This is truly a day of celebration for all Americans, a day to be shared with our children so they can in turn tell their children that they bore witness to history,” added Mason.

“Judge Jackson’s elevation to the Supreme Court comes at a crucial time for our country and for the Court itself. Many weighty constitutional and civil rights issues will come before the Court in the decades to come and the confirmation of future Justice Jackson will benefit all who care about those issues. Although the Supreme Court used to be the last line of defense against laws that harm people and curtail their freedoms, that is not the case with today’s Court. In case after case, many Justices seem bent on rolling back fundamental freedoms Americans have enjoyed for decades. Now more than ever, we need a diverse Court, with Justices who remain committed to expanding freedoms and protections, especially for women and communities of color,” said Mason.

“Judge Jackson is the right person for the Court at this crucial juncture in American history. And having her deeply respected and highly qualified voice weighing in on the profound legal issues of the day will only strengthen our nation,” said Mason.

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The Institute for Women’s Policy Research strives to win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, IWPR builds evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families. Learn more at IWPR.org and follow us on Twitter.