The Legal Aid Society is praising today’s historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, as reported by The New York Times.

“Today’s confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, the first Black woman and public defender to sit on our nation’s highest court, marks a significant step in breaking down the systemic barriers that stand in the way of progress,” reads a statement from Legal Aid. “For over 230 years, the Supreme Court has remained overwhelmingly homogeneous, with 108 out of 115 justices being white men. Justice Jackson’s confirmation opens the door to future generations of people of color whose education and legal career paths differ from the status-quo.” 

 “Yet today is historic not only because Justice Jackson represents many firsts, but because she is a brilliant lawyer and dedicated public servant who will help to realize a foundational principle of our highest court—equal justice under the law,” the statement continues. “Her exemplary record as a jurist and public defender will bring a critical perspective to the bench on the lack of racial equity and fairness in the criminal legal system and its impact on Black and Latinx communities across the country.”