[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female U.S. Supreme Court Justice in American history, officially took office on the 30th (local time). This broke the glass ceiling of the U.S. Supreme Court, which had been dominated by white males, after 233 years.
According to The New York Times (NYT) and others, Justice Jackson held an inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington DC on the day and took the oath, saying, "I accept the solemn responsibility to uphold and support the Constitution and to administer justice without fear or favor." Jackson, 51 years old this year, is the successor to former Justice Stephen Breyer, who retired that day. She is from Miami and graduated from Harvard University for both undergraduate and law school.
Justice Jackson's inauguration was confirmed after the U.S. Senate approved her nomination with 53 votes in favor and 47 against in April. She is the 116th Supreme Court Justice in the United States and the sixth female Justice.
However, the distribution of conservative-leaning justices remains "6 conservatives to 3 progressives." Former Justice Breyer, Jackson's predecessor, was also progressive. U.S. Supreme Court Justices hold lifetime appointments and are appointed by the President with Senate confirmation only in cases of impeachment, death, or resignation. The appointment of a Black female Justice was also a campaign promise of U.S. President Joe Biden.
Notably, Justice Jackson joined amid nationwide controversy after the Supreme Court recently overturned "Roe v. Wade," which constitutionally guaranteed abortion rights. Her full activities are expected to begin in the second half of the year. The Supreme Court, which typically starts its term in October, is soon approaching its recess.
Justice Jackson did not release any special statement regarding her official inauguration on the day.
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