Black women vault from mountain top to stake Supreme Court
Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit
Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, testifi es before
a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on pending judicial
nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 28,
2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Pool/File
Caribbean Life, February 4-10, 2022 11
In 233 years not a single
Black woman has ever been
seated on the US Supreme
Court.
Democrats led by Lyndon
Baines Johnson in 1967 nominated
Thurgood Marshall, the
first Black man to diversify,
decide constitutional law and
exemplify democracy in America
. Following Justice Marshall’s
retirement in 1991, Republican
President George W. Bush
replaced him by nominating
his party’s Black conservative
Clarence Thomas.
In this millennium, conservatives
now hold a 6-3 majority
on the court. Therefore, when
Supreme Court Justice Stephen
Breyer hinted retirement after
this session, all eyes focused on
a promise Democratic Senator
Joe Biden made during his
presidential campaign.
The then contender and
former vice president chosen by
President Barack Obama vowed
if elected commander-in-chief,
he would appoint a Black
woman to the US Supreme
Court.
The prospect seemed an
unlikely proposition.
For starters during his eightyear
tenure serving first in line
to the presidency, Biden was
unable to aid in seating a white
male justice.
It was not ineptitude that
prevented an appointment, it
was a united decision by the
Republican successor and his
party loyalists to block any
appointments of their opposition
candidates.
That political standoff proliferated
throughout the Democratic
two-term administration
however, under their rival
party’s leadership, within four
years, three Republicans were
confirmed to lifetime rulings
on the bench.
Despite consistent resistance
to bi-partisan governing, Sen.
Biden’s daunting assertion held
hope for both race and gender
(if not equity) representation
on the highest court.
In South Carolina where
Biden made the commitment,
he won overwhelming support
from Black voters. Afterward
he easily eked out victory over
the incumbent Republican.
One year after his inauguration
President Biden recently
reaffirmed the commitment
adding that he will decide his
choice by the end of Black History
Month.
Within 24 hours, the media
raced to project a shortlist of
amiable Black women for consideration.
Before long, there
were as many as 100 trailblazing
possibilities.
At press time, reports are
that the choices have been narrowed
to include 13 experienced
Black women.
Right now, there are only six
Black women serving as judges
on federal appeals courts.
Among them: alleged frontrunner
Judge Ketanji Brown
Jackson. Allegedly, two decades
ago she clerked for retiring
Judge Breyer. Another credit to
her proficiency is that former
Pres. Obama interviewed Jackson
in 2016 for the same position
when Justice Antonin
Scalia died.
Sunday, Republican South
Carolina Sen, Lindsay Graham
surprised viewers of CBSTV’s
“Face The Nation” morning
show by endorsing his
state’s Federal District Judge J,
Michelle Childs.
“I can’t think of a better person
for President Biden to consider
for the Supreme Court
than Michelle Childs,” Graham
said.
“She has wide support in our
state,” the avowed Trump supporter
said.
“She’s considered to be a fair
minded, highly gifted jurist.
She’s one of the most decent
people I’ve ever met.”
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
MEET THE NEW
MULTIPLIER FAMILY
Play the X Series. Win up to $3,000,000.
©2022 New York Lottery
PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY.
You must be 18 years or older to purchase a lottery ticket.
Struggling with a gambling addiction? Call the HOPEline 1-877-8-HOPE-NY (1-877-846-7369)
or text HOPENY (467369). Standard text rates may apply. The trademark “10X” Reg. No. 3,350,533
is owned by and used with the permission of Multi-State Lottery Association. NYLResponsiblePlay.com
Recyclable
Tickets
/NYLResponsiblePlay.com
