Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Biden announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Once confirmed, Judge Jackson will fill Justice Breyer’s seat when he retires at the end of this term.
Judge Jackson is the first Black woman to be nominated to the high court, and once confirmed, she will be the fourth person of color and the sixth woman ever to serve as a Justice.
A judge on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Jackson has already been confirmed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support three times. She will bring a range of experience to the Court, including having been a public defender and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Her previous decisions on environmental and other public interest cases indicate she understands the government’s duty and authority to protect the public and the courts’ crucial role in holding powerful interests accountable.
In response, Sierra Club President Ramon Cruz issued the following statement:
“The Sierra Club congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her historic nomination to the Supreme Court. President Biden has selected an exceptionally well-qualified, highly-respected nominee who will bring a range of experiences and a new, much-needed perspective to the nation’s highest Court. Judge Jackson’s record speaks for itself and it is clear that as a Justice, she will ensure equal justice for every single one of us, uphold the values of our Constitution and keep faith with the letter and spirit of the nation’s bedrock public health, environmental, civil rights, and labor laws.
“With upcoming cases expected next term, the Supreme Court will continue to determine not only the rights and liberties of the majority of the American people but also directly impact our pursuit of the livable, thriving planet we all deserve. It is long overdue that a Black woman serve on the Supreme Court, and Judge Jackson’s confirmation will bring us closer to the promise of justice for all. The Sierra Club calls on the Senate to, once again, confirm Judge Jackson without delay.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.