That’s Justice Brown Jackson To You
That’s Justice Brown Jackson, to you. On April 7, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the 116th Justice of the US Supreme Court. This historic moment solidified Jackson’s role as the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest Court, and one of the brightest legal minds to serve the American people. Representation matters, and Justice-designate Brown Jackson will do more than fill an empty seat. Her service to the Supreme Court will fulfill a role of visibility for Black and Brown women and girls who have never seen themselves represented in places where decisions are being made. Power in the hands of Justice Brown Jackson is power in the hands of the people.
It’s our time now.
When Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is sworn in as the 116th Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the trajectory of the world will shift slightly towards progress. The honorable Justice, whose experience prior to her historical nomination to the Supreme Court is one of the most impressive legal careers in the history of the Court, will be a source of inspiration and representation for Black women and girls worldwide. We can’t be what we can’t see.
During her confirmation hearing, Justice Brown Jackson remained largely neutral on her stances on hot-button political and social issues facing the Court. But we’ve done some digging, and we’re excited to share 5 Top Stances of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson based on her previous legal writings and judicial decisions.
Think of this as a legal meet-cute with your new favorite SCOTUS bb.
⚡️ Abortion Rights ::
In an amicus brief written during her time as a private practice attorney, Justice Brown Jackson defended pro-choice groups requesting anti-abortion protesters be kept from protesting outside of reproductive health care facilities. She wrote, “when a woman’s intention to enter one of these clinics becomes manifest, she becomes an occasion for protest”. These words in Justice Brown Jackson’s amicus brief have caused pro-choice groups to support her confirmation and pro-life groups to vocally oppose her. As a federal judge, Brown Jackson ruled against the Trump Administration’s decision to cut federal grant funding under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which funds progressive approaches to preventing teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections.
⚡️ Voter Protections ::
As a staunch believer in voting rights as fundamental civil rights, Justice Brown Jackson has historically fought to preserve voter protections from disenfranchisement. When questioned by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jackson stated that “The right to vote is protected by our Constitution”.
⚡️ Labor Unions ::
Justice Jackson has historically sided with labor unions, 27 of whom issued a joint statement of support for her confirmation to the Court. A long-time supporter of working people, Justice Jackson issued an opinion that defied a Trump Administration rule that limited the scope of bargaining for federal employee unions.
⚡️ Immigration ::
In a 2019 ruling, Justice Brown Jackson blocked the Trump Administration from expediting the removal of immigrants and asylum-seekers who crossed the border. As a federal Judge, Jackson influenced major changes in the way language negatively impacts immigrant communities. In her written opinions, Brown Jackson has publicly spoken about rejecting the words “illegal” or “alien” to describe immigrants, and instead using the term “undocumented” to preserve humanity.
⚡️ Criminal Justice Reform to Protect the Underrepresented ::
As a former criminal defense attorney and lawyer for the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Justice Brown Jackson has a depth of experience advocating for criminal justice reform. Justice Jackson has served as a Public Defender and private practice attorney protecting the rights of economically disadvantaged and those wrongly accused. Previously, she filed a successful Supreme Court brief that challenged the federal government’s detainment of incarcerated people in Guantanamo Bay. In another case, she ruled that a corrections facility must pay damages for not accommodating a deaf man who was incarcerated. In her personal life, Judge Brown Jackson has experience with both sides of the criminal justice system, telling the story of an uncle convicted and sentenced for drug possession and a brother serving as a Baltimore detective.
