Today my heart is beyond full because of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her nomination to the Supreme Court is historic and groundbreaking on so many levels. And for me, as the sister of a man deeply harmed by our criminal legal system, and as the leader of an organization committed to healing as a cornerstone of a new vision for justice, I see Judge Jackson as a beacon of inspiration for the perspective she will bring on criminal legal issues. It is incredibly important for our highest court to now have the experience she will bring as a former public defender who understands the power the government wields to take away someone’s life and liberty, and the way that power has disproportionately harmed Black communities. Reimagining justice requires a deep understanding of the damage brought by what exists, and Judge Jackson will deliver that at the most consequential level.
This nomination is deeply personal for me, too. I decided, at age 9, to be a lawyer and knew that there had never been a Black woman on the Supreme Court. When I imagine Judge Jackson behind the bench, a descendant of enslaved people, a Black woman who had to work harder and fight through bias and discrimination, I — like millions of other Black women and girls — see myself. And I feel confident we have someone who will keep in the center of her mind the poor, marginalized people who have felt the sweeping harm of this system. Judge Jackson is exactly who we need.
