Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

 Listening to the confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Thoughts:

1. She is so obviously incredibly bright and well-qualified, far beyond some of the recent appointees.
2. She'll bring insight to issues of criminal justice, that the Court has never had. I admire that, as a criminal public defender, she didn't want defendants to feel bitter, to feel like the system treated them unfairly, so she took special pains to make sure they understood how the system works, so that they would be more likely to know how they screwed up (if they screwed up), and therefore be more likely to rehabilitate themselves in prison. Honor!
3. It is outrageous that some Republican Senators, who supported her for the Court of Appeals, are now mischaracterizing her commitment to the rule of law and to the Constitution. We can only conclude that they are against justice.
4. This candidate is strongly supported by the country's largest crime enforcement organization (chiefs of police), which wouldn't happen (as cops are on the prosecution side, and she was a public defender) unless she was widely seen as fair, trustworthy, and skilled.
5. Her entire family is in public service, including military, for this country. We should all feel proud today that our country has supported the development of such a great judicial candidate.
6. ...And I regret to repeat this last one, but yes, she will be the first Black woman on the high court. I guess that we all have to comment on that, but what I hate is that it tends to minimize her outstanding qualifications as a jurist--there will be an overhang now, that she got the job because she was a Black woman. She deserves the seat more than at least 3 or 4 sitting justices do, a fact that bears no relation to her gender or ethnic group. I hope for a day when we can just say 'this person is highly qualified.' Anyway, it is a great day.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/kbj/



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