A Historic Choice for the High Court

President Joe Biden announced Friday that he was nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson from the influential D.C. Circuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Jackson would  make history as the first African American woman to serve on the nation’s high court and her nomination fulfills a campaign promise made by the president.

Moreover, Judge Jackson would be the first public defender to serve on the Supreme Court and, if her nomination is successful, she would will fill the vacancy created by the impending retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. 

What association does Judge Jackson have with Justice Breyer?

INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Videos:

News Articles:

Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court

CNN

2/25/22

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/biden-supreme-court-nominee-ketanji-brown-jackson/index.html

What Ketanji Brown Jackson Could Bring to the Supreme Court

Time Magazine

2/25/22

https://time.com/6151590/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-profile/

EXPLAINER: What’s Ahead for Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

NBC 4 New York

2/25/22

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/explainer-whats-ahead-for-bidens-supreme-court-nominee-ketanji-brown-jackson/3572828/

A groundbreaking nomination who’s unlikely to reshape the Supreme Court.

New York Times

2/25/22

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/us/politics/supreme-court-jackson-future.html

News Articles (Analyses):

Notable opinions held by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, as Biden announces high court nominee

Houston Chronicle

2/25/22

https://www.chron.com/politics/article/SC-nominee-Ketanji-Brown-Jackson-opinions-16947532.php

How Ketanji Brown Jackson found a path between confrontation and compromise

Washington Post

2/25/22

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/ketanji-brown-jackson-miami-family-parents/

President Biden picks Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on Supreme Court

Fox News

2/25/22

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/biden-supreme-court-pick-ketanji-brown-jackson-choice

Biden picked Miami’s Brown Jackson. What comes next in her path to the Supreme Court?

Miami Herald

2/25/22

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article258780698.html

Assessment:

Writing: Explain why supporters of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson believe that her background will be such an asset on the Supreme Court. Will Judge Jackson’s confirmation impact the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court?

Debate: Should preference be given to law school graduates from Harvard and Yale?

Poll: Should Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson be confirmed by the U.S. Senate?

Short Answer: Describe how a presidential nominee to the Supreme Court is confirmed and why recent presidents have nominated relatively young candidates?

QUIZ:

When will Justice Breyer officially leave the Supreme Court?

1. his retirement is effective immediately
2. his retirement is effective after confirmation of a successor
3. his retirement is effective after the end of the current term
4. his retirement is effective after the midterm congressional elections

How many women will have served on the U.S. Supreme Court if Judge Jackson is confirmed?

1. three
2. five
3. seven
4. nine

If confirmed, Judge Jackson would likely be more closely aligned with the Supreme Court’s _____ faction?

1. conservative
2. libertarían
3. liberal
4. Florida

 

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s parents were schoolteachers. (T/F)

Ketanji Brown Jackson clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. (T/F)

Ketanji Brown Jackson was the preferred choice of Senator Lindsay Graham because of her South Carolina roots. (T/F)