Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says people approach her with 'a profound sense of pride' over her appointment to the high court
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
- Ketanji Brown Jackson says people approach her with "a profound sense of pride" over her SCOTUS appointment.
- Jackson, the first Black woman to sit on the court, made the remarks after her investiture ceremony.
- She will hear her first oral arguments on Monday, which marks the start of the court's new session.
Associate Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday said that Americans from all background have approached her with "a profound sense of pride," remarks that she made after her formal investiture ceremony.
Jackson, the first Black woman in United States history to ascend to the high court, will hear her first oral arguments on Monday as the body begins its new term.
The newest justice did not speak on the sharp ideological split of the court, as it now has a decidedly 6-3 conservative majority, but instead spoke of the interactions that she has had with everyday people in recent months.
"People from all walks of life approach me with what I can only describe as a profound sense of pride. And what feels to me like renewed ownership. I can see it in their eyes," Jackson said during her remarks.
"They stare at me as if to say, 'Look at what we've done ... this is what we can accomplish if we put our minds to it,'" she added.
In the upcoming session, Jackson and the other eight members of the high court will delve through cases — including those affecting voting rights, environmental regulations, and the scope of power granted to federal agencies — where the decisions will be far-reaching for millions of Americans.
Jackson joins a court that only months ago voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States and afforded a constitutional right to the procedure.
The ramifications of the decision has been stark, with many states instituted near-total abortion bans, while some have expanded abortion rights.
In joining the court, Jackson has succeeded Stephen Breyer, who sat on the court from 1994 until his formal retirement in June.
During Friday's ceremony, Jackson was administrated an oath by Chief Justice John Roberts, with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, former Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Breyer in attendance.
Jackson's formal swearing-in to the court occurred in June.