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With the news that Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring from the Supreme Court, it paves the way for a new justice.
Breyer announced his decision on Wednesday, with President Biden delivering remarks in a presser on Thursday and re-committing to nominating a Black woman to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer as the next justice for the United States Supreme Court.
“Our process is going to be rigorous. I will select the nominee worthy of Justice Breyer’s legacy of excellence and decency,” he said. “The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court.”
He said it’s “long overdue.”
We wholeheartedly agree!
Historic First
Biden is delivering on his promise to nominate a Black woman during his campaign for President in 2020, which secured the endorsement of Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) — one Biden needed in the make-or-break South Carolina presidential primary.
It wasn’t known at the time, but it’s now being reported that Clyburn “Extracted a firm promise from Biden: that he would name an African American woman to the Supreme Court. There have been only two Black Supreme Court justices, and only five women on the court — none of them Black,” according to NBC.
In what would be a historic first, the women being considered for the high court are:
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson is a Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and frontrunner for Breyer’s seat. She’s rumored to be a top prospect for Biden, as he promoted her to her current position just last year. Before this, the DC native was district judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2013 to 2021.
California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger
At just 38 years old, Judge Leondra Kruger, another frontrunner, became the youngest appointee to the California Supreme Court in 2014, after being nominated by then-governor Jerry Brown. Her previous experience includes serving as acting deputy solicitor general during the Obama administration, arguing 12 cases before the Supreme Court for the government.
Judge J. Michelle Childs
Judge Julianna Michelle Childs is currently the U.S. Federal Judge for the District of South Carolina, a role she’s held for over 10 years. The University of South Carolina law school alumna was also recently nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals by President Biden last month. Previously, Childs spent nine years at Nexsen Pruet’s Columbia office and became the firm’s first Black partner.
Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi
Judge Candace Jackson Akiwumi is the second Black woman judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Akiwumi was nominated for the role by President Biden in April of last year.
Akiwumi started her legal career clerking for Clinton appointees and then spent more than a decade as an Illinois federal public defender. The Princeton and Yale-educated Judge garnered the support of both Democrats and Republicans on June 24, 2021, when she was confirmed for the 7th Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Judge Eunice Lee
Judge Eunice Lee, also a Yale graduate, is a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, also nominated by President Biden last year. Lee is the second Black woman to ever serve on the 2nd Circuit and the only judge on the circuit with experience as a public defender. With 21 years of experience, she is the longest-serving public defender to ever serve as a judge on a U.S. Court of Appeals.
President Biden says he will make his choice for Supreme Court nominee before the end of February.
“I have made no choice at this point. Once I select a nominee, I’ll ask the Senate to move promptly on my choice. In the end, I will nominate a historic candidate, someone who is worthy of Justice Breyer’s legacy, and someone who, like Justice Breyer, will provide incredible service on the United States Supreme Court,” he said.
We are excited for this historic news! What do you think about a Black woman FINALLY being named to the high court? Tell us below!
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