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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 9 april 2022
Cheers for Jackson, who declares, ‘We’ve made it, all of us’

Continued from Front

Jackson, at times speak-
ing through tears as she
thanked her family and
mentors for their support,
promised to follow in Brey-
er’s footsteps on the bench.
“I have done my level best
to stay in my lane and to
reach a result that is con-
sistent with my understand-
ing of the law,” she said,
“And with the obligation to
rule independently, without
fear or favor.”
Jackson’s remarks on the
White House lawn might
be the most, and the last,
the public hears from her
for some time. She won’t
formally join the court un-
til early summer, and the
justices won’t hear cases
again until October. In any
event, justices tend not
to say much about them-
selves in their early years
on the court, though some
make sporadic public ap-
pearances and several Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s husband Dr. Patrick Jackson, right, and daughters Leila Jackson, second from right, and Talia
have done speaking tours Jackson, second from left, arrive on the South Lawn of the White House where President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President
to pitch memoirs or their Kamala Harris and Judge Jackson, will speak and celebrate the confirmation of Judge Jackson as the first Black woman to reach
books about the law. the Supreme Court, Friday, April 8, 2022 in Washington.
Jackson’s arrival on the Associated Press
bench won’t upend the
current 6-3 conservative tioned Jackson during con- tion, as well as Democratic “At that point in time, vac- part in shaping the court,
balance. But in addition firmation hearings, accus- representatives and allies. cines were unavailable, both inside and out of the
to the racial history, it will ing her of liberal activism The White House said all people were not vaccinat- Senate. But this was his first
for the first time put four as an appeals court judge current and former justices ed, it certainly puts us in a opportunity to make a se-
women on the court at one and being soft on crime in of the Supreme Court were different space,” Psaki said. lection of his own.
time. some of her sentencing. invited, but none attended. While not all attendees Biden may not get another
Biden nominated Jackson Biden praised Jackson’s The event came amid a were tested for the virus, chance. Senate Minority
on the second anniversary “incredible character and COVID-19 outbreak among Psaki said those close to Leader Mitch McConnell, in
of his pledge ahead of the integrity” during the confir- Washington’s political class Biden would be. Harris de- an interview Thursday with
South Carolina presidential mation process, saying she that has sidelined members livered remarks, though she Axios, refused to commit to
primary to select a Black put up with “verbal abuse, of Biden’s administration was identified on Wednes- hold confirmation hearings
woman for the court. The the anger, constant inter- and lawmakers, including day as a close contact of a for a future Biden nominee
move helped resurrect his ruptions, the most vile base- Collins and Georgia Sen. staffer who tested positive. to the high court if the GOP
flailing campaign and pre- less assertions and accusa- Raphael Warnock, who Centers for Disease Control retakes control of the Sen-
served his pathway to the tions.” He praised the three tested positive for the vi- and Prevention guidelines ate in 2023.
White House, and Biden Republican senators who rus just hours after voting require close contacts to While Jackson awaits Brey-
said the promise of putting joined Democrats to back for Brown’s confirmation. wear masks while around er’s official retirement, a
someone like Jackson on her for the court: Maine House Speaker Nancy Pe- other people. Harris did White House official said,
the court helped motivate Sen. Susan Collins, Alaska losi, who was on the invite not wear one during the she will remain on the Court
his bid for the Oval Office. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and list, tested positive for the South Lawn event, and she of Appeals for the District of
“I could see it as a day of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. virus on Thursday. hugged Jackson at the Columbia Circuit but con-
hope, a day of promise, Jackson will be the high White House press secre- conclusion. tinue to recuse herself from
a day of progress, a day court’s first former public tary Jen Psaki on Thursday “She had an emotional cases.q
when once again the mor- defender — with the elite addressed concerns that moment, which is under-
al arc of the universe — as legal background of oth- the White House event standable,” said Psaki.
Barack (Obama) used to er justices as well. She has could be a “super-spread- On Thursday, Jackson had
quote all the time — bends degrees from Harvard and er” for the virus, like Presi- joined Biden at the White
a little more toward jus- Harvard Law School and dent Donald Trump’s Rose House to watch the Senate
tice,” Biden told the bois- held top clerkships, includ- Garden ceremony an- vote unfold on TV, the two
terous crowd on the South ing for Breyer himself. nouncing the nomination of them clasping hands in
Lawn. “I believe so strongly The crowd on the White of now-Justice Amy Coney the Roosevelt Room as her
that we needed a court House lawn included Jack- Barrett. Psaki emphasized confirmation became real-
that looks like America.” son’s family, members of that the risks from the virus ity.
Racial questions aside, Biden’s Cabinet, some of are now much lower be- Throughout his 50 years
a number of Republican the Democratic senators cause of vaccinations and in Washington, Biden has
senators aggressively ques- who backed her nomina- treatments. played an instrumental