Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is One of the Most Qualified Nominees for the Supreme Court Ever

JACKSON WOULD BRING AN UNPARALLELED BREADTH AND DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE 

Jackson would be the most experienced trial court judge to join the Supreme Court in almost a century.

• Jackson served on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for nearly 8 years, giving her more trial court experience than any sitting Supreme Court justice and more than any justice since Edward Sanford, who was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1923.

Jackson would be only the second sitting justice to serve at all three levels of the federal judiciary.

• Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor has also served as a District judge, Circuit judge and Supreme Court justice.

Jackson would bring more years of experience as a judge than four of the sitting justices combined.

• Jackson has more than eight years of experience as a judge; that’s more than Justices Thomas, Roberts, Kagan, and Barrett had combined when they were confirmed.

Jackson would be the first public defender to become a Supreme Court justice in the history of the Court.

• She would be the first justice with substantial criminal defense experience since Thurgood Marshall retired in 1991.

JACKSON HAS WON BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND PRAISE

• Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate on a bipartisan basis three times. In 2021, Jackson was confirmed to the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia with the support of Republican Sens. Murkowski, Collins, and Graham. 
• Former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan: “My praise for Ketanji’s intellect, for her character, for her integrity – it is unequivocal.”
• Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): “Very impressive background … extensive trial court experience.”
• Republican-appointed judge Thomas Griffith, who supported Jackson’s elevation to the D.C. Circuit after observing her work as a judge, recently said: “Her academic record is remarkable. She has a breadth of experience, which is really quite unique.”
• When Jackson was nominated to the D.C. Circuit, she received support from Supreme Court clerks for Justices Scalia, Thomas, Rehnquist, Kennedy, Souter, and O’Connor.

INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS: JACKSON IS ‘HIGHLY QUALIFIED’ WITH A ‘GLITTERING RESUME’ AND A ‘VERY DISTINGUISHED RECORD’

CNN: “She has a very distinguished record as a trial court judge and now an appellate court judge.”

Boston Globe: “A sterling educational background, a distinguished track record on the federal bench, and a reputation for both brilliance and an even judicial temperament. … A reputation as brilliant and meticulous”

PBS: “Jackson has a resume seemingly tailor-fit for the moment.”

Vox: “Well qualified for the job. … Significant judicial experience.”

CNN: “A glittering resume.”

Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post: “Top-flight academic qualifications” 

Elie Honig, CNN Senior Legal Analyst: “Ranking among the absolute finest judges I’ve ever seen in action … a truly exceptional federal judge”

Paul Bulter, Washington Post Columnist: “[A] résumé … from central casting”

SCOTUS Blog: “She would bring a wide range of experiences”

Bloomberg: “The most complete resume [among frontrunners on Biden’s reported list] for a seat on the high court.”

LA Times: “Those who know Jackson say she always drew praise and respect.”

Financial Times: “Her rise in the legal profession has been widely regarded as formidable”

Slate: “A deep understanding of labor law”