US Senate confirms first black woman for Supreme court
The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, making her the first black woman to be elevated to the pinnacle of the judicial branch in what her supporters hailed as a needed step needed towards bringing new diversity and life experience to the court.
It was reported that overcoming a concerted effort by conservative Republicans to derail her nominations, Jackson was confirmed on a 53-to- 47 vote, with three Republicans joining all 50 members of the Democratic caucus in backing her.
The vote to confirm the 51 year old federal appellate judge to a lifetime job on the nations top judicial body was 53-47, with three Republicans- Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney- joining Biden’s fellow Democrats. A simple majority was needed, as Jackson overcame Republican opposition n a Supreme Court confirmation process that remains fiercely partisan.
Jackson will take the 83 year old Breyer’s place on the liberal bloc of a court with an increasingly assertive six-three conservative majority.
Breyer is due to serve until the court’s current term ends- usually in late June – and Jackson would be formally sworn in after that. Jackson served early in her career as Supreme Court Clerk for Breyer.
