Biden congratulates Ketanji Brown Jackson on Supreme Court nomination
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden’s first Supreme Court appointee, was sworn in during a short swearing-in ceremony. She is the first black woman to serve on the court and replaces Stephen Breyer by joining the two other liberals on the current court, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by Barack Obama.
Mrs. Brown Jackson’s confirmation was never in serious doubt thanks to Democrats’ control of the White House and Senate, but her hearings nonetheless saw several Judiciary Committee Republicans attack her for her supposed radicalism and his alleged history of unduly lenient convictions to child sex offenders.
She also endured issues related to current GOP social concerns, including alleged teaching of critical race theory and sex and gender arguments.
Nevertheless, she was eventually confirmed with the support of all 50 Senate Democrats and three Republicans.
Judge Breyer is stepping down after 28 years on the court. On Thursday morning, he gave his opinion on the last two cases of the 2021/22 session. The conservative majority court ruled to nullify the federal government’s ability to address the climate crisis, but will allow the Biden administration to end the Trump-era “stay in Mexico” asylum policy.
Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as US Supreme Court Justice
Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the 116th justice of the United States Supreme Court, the first black woman and the first former public defender to join the nine-member panel.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 5:14 p.m.
After a short ceremony, Ketanji Brown Jackson becomes the first black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court as the 116th justice.
The swearing-in ceremony was broadcast live from the court and attended by the new judge’s immediate family, including her husband, who held the Bible on which she was sworn.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 5:10 p.m.
Swearing-in ceremony in progress
The swearing-in ceremony begins with Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath as determined by the Constitution.
Judge Stephen Breyer will administer the judicial oath.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 5:05 p.m.
SCOTUS rejects Covid-19 shooting warrant case from New York
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to hear a case involving a Covid-19 vaccine requirement for healthcare workers in New York that does not offer an exemption on religious grounds.
The court action follows a December ruling in which judges rejected an emergency request to end the requirement. At the time, doctors, nurses and other medical workers said they were forced to choose between their jobs and their religious beliefs.
Three conservative justices – Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito – dissented earlier and did so again on Thursday.
New York is one of three states, along with Maine and Rhode Island, that does not accept healthcare workers who object to the vaccine on religious grounds.
The court previously denied Maine healthcare workers, who filed a similar challenge, with the same three justices dissenting.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 4:48 p.m.
ICYMI: Biden slams GOP ‘verbal abuse’ during Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings
The IndependentWashington’s political team reported on the historic event at the time.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 4:40 p.m.
SCOTUS to review powers of state legislatures in federal elections
The Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to hear an appeal by Republicans in North Carolina that could significantly limit the authority of state courts over congressional redistricting, as well as congressional and presidential elections.
The judges will consider whether state courts, finding violations of their state constitution, can order federal election changes and the once-a-decade reshuffling of congressional districts.
The case will likely be heard in the fall when Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joins the bench for her first term.
The appeal challenges a state court ruling rejecting congressional districts drawn by the North Carolina General Assembly that made GOP candidates likely winners in 10 of the state’s 14 congressional districts.
The Supreme Court has never invoked the so-called independent state legislature doctrine, but four of the court’s conservative justices have expressed interest in addressing the topic.
One of them, Judge Clarence Thomas, was among the three judges who put him forward in the Bush versus Gore case that settled the 2000 presidential election.
It is enough that four of the nine judges agree to hear a case. A majority of five is necessary for a possible decision.
The problem has arisen repeatedly in cases from North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where Democratic majorities in the highest state courts have invoked the voting protections in their state constitutions to thwart the plans of legislatures dominated by the Republicans.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 4:30 p.m.
ICYMI: Judge Stephen Breyer retires
After announcing his retirement earlier this year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will officially end his term on the nation’s High Court today at noon.
Read Judge Breyer’s retirement letter here.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 4:26 p.m.
Watch: “It took 232 years to date a black woman”
‘It took 232 years for a black woman nomination,’ says Judge Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Thursday, as the first black woman appointed in 232 years after overcoming a vigorous Senate approval process. After weeks of private meetings, days of public testimony and heated debates over judicial philosophy and race relations in the United States, Jackson won bipartisan support to become the 116th Supreme Court justice. The vote was 53 to 47, with all Democrats in favor. Click here to sign up for our free newsletters.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 4:09 p.m.
Is this Justice Jackson Joe Biden’s first and last addition to the Supreme Court?
Congressional scrutiny would decide whether President Joe Biden was able to push through another nomination if necessary.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 3:52 p.m.
No two judicial at noon
With the final opinions of this mandate rendered, in just under ninety minutes, and nearly three months after obtaining the confirmation of the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson will officially become a judge.
Judge Jackson, 51, will be sworn in as the court’s 116th judge just as the man she replaces, Judge Stephen Breyer, retires.
The judicial pas de deux is set to take place at noon, when Judge Breyer said in a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday that his retirement would take effect after nearly 28 years on the nation’s top court.
In a ceremony the court said it would live stream, Justice Jackson will recite two oaths required of Supreme Court justices, one administered by outgoing Justice Breyer and the other by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Ms. Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, will be the first black woman to serve as a judge. She will join three women, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett – the first time four women will serve together on the nine-member tribunal.
Olivier O’ConnellJune 30, 2022 3:34 p.m.
The Independent Gt