187 Civil and Human Rights Organizations Urge Senate to Confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rafael Medina, [email protected], 202.869.0390

WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, joined by 186 national organizations, urged the Senate to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The letter — demonstrating the breadth and depth of our coalition’s support — highlights Judge Jackson’s exceptional qualifications and her commitment to civil rights and equal justice under the law.

Judge Jackson’s nomination marks a historic and long overdue milestone for our country and a critical step towards equal justice. She will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She will be the first justice with any significant criminal defense experience since Justice Thurgood Marshall, and she would be the only Supreme Court justice to have ever served as a public defender. Judge Jackson brings critical perspectives and meaningful experience that is critically needed on our highest court.

The letter reads, in part, “Judge Jackson’s lauded legal reputation and record as a fair and impartial jurist speaks for itself and has garnered respect and recognition across partisan and ideological lines. She has been confirmed with bipartisan support by the Senate three times … In addition to the support she has from the civil and human rights community, her nomination to the Supreme Court has been met with broad support from colleagues in the judiciary, law enforcement community, academia, and the legal profession.” The letter continues, “Judge Jackson’s impressive and distinguished legal career, her collegiality and professionalism to all she encounters in her courtroom, and her record as a fairminded judge make her an exceptional choice to serve on our nation’s highest court.”

The letter concludes, “As Judge Jackson said in March 2021 while accepting Columbia Law School’s Constance Baker Motley Award for empowering women of color lawyers and advancing the rights of people of color, We are now charged with the responsibility … of doing the work that is necessary to protect the rule of law and to promote equality and justice for all.’ That responsibility to work towards equal justice is an essential duty of our judicial branch, and Judge Jackson’s record proves that she is immensely qualified to render that justice on the Supreme Court. We strongly urge all senators to meet this incredible moment in history and to support the confirmation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court.”

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

For more context on this powerful moment in civil rights history, read our new blog post here.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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