Today, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, filling the seat formerly occupied by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), issued the following statement regarding Judge Jackson’s confirmation:
“We extend our congratulations to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her confirmation to the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit. Judge Jackson’s bipartisan confirmation is well-deserved. Her diversity of professional experience, exemplary judicial record, and commitment to impartiality and upholding the rule of law all readily demonstrate why she will make an excellent addition to the federal appellate bench.
“Judge Jackson is only the third Black woman to ever serve on the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit — and only the ninth Black woman to ever hold a seat on the federal appellate bench. This is critically important because ensuring that the judiciary is reflective of this country’s diversity safeguards its legitimacy and integrity – and fosters the veritable provision of justice undergirded by fairness and equality.
“Furthermore, Judge Jackson’s service as a public defender early in her legal career means she has experience serving the most vulnerable members of society and will help diversify professional perspectives on the appellate bench. We welcome the depth and breadth of experience that Judge Jackson brings and know she will make a strong addition to the D.C. Circuit.”
###
Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Follow LDF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.