History Was Made Yesterday.

By Karen and Erica

Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed for a seat on the Supreme Court yesterday—the sixth woman, the first Black woman, the first public defender. We salute her.

Since Lustre started—for us a relevant measuring point!—four justices have been appointed—Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett and now Jackson. Consequently, Judge Jackson will be seated at a time when the Court is composed of a majority of justices who are of the view that the Constitution should reflect the intent of the people at the time of its passage. Many parts of the the Constitution were enacted when only land-owning white men could vote. Even when the Fourteenth Amendment was passed only men could vote.

Nevertheless, for the first time four women Justices will soon serve on the Court. That is something we could not have imagined when we started practicing law.

Judge Jackson’s elevation is something to celebrate, for sure.