In a historic moment for the United States, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court.
On the floor of the upper chamber of Congress, the 51-year-old’s appointment was greeted with a standing ovation. As a result of her appointment, white men will not make up the majority on the nation’s top court for the first time in 233 years.
President Joe Biden described the moment as “historic” for the US.
“On this vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are 47, and this nomination is confirmed,” announced Vice President Kamala Harris as she presided over the Senate. With those words, the nation’s first female and first Black vice president announced the confirmation of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring this summer, and Ketanji Brown Jackson will take his place on the high court.
Former US president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the former first lady, were among those celebrating.
“Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride – a sense of joy – to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will be a part of the highest court in the land,” tweeted the former first lady.
“This is a great day for America, and a proud moment in our history,” posted Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “This milestone should have happened generations ago… but we are always trotting on a path towards a more perfect union. Nevertheless, America today is taking a giant step towards making our union more perfect.”
“People sometimes talk about standing on the shoulders of giants; well, Judge Jackson will go down in history as an American giant upon whose shoulders others will stand tall. And our democracy will be better off for it.”
After an exhausting confirmation process, Jackson also received support from three Republicans in the evenly divided Senate (Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah), helping Biden earn a bipartisan, 53-47 approval for his first Supreme Court nominee.
