FBANC Commends the Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court

February 25, 2022

FBANC commends the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Judge Jackson currently sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Prior to her tenure at the D.C. Circuit, Judge Jackson served on the U.S. District Court for the District Court of Columbia from September 2012 to June 2021. From 2009-2012, Judge Jackson was the Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent body of the federal judicial branch that promulgates the uniform rules for sentencing those convicted of felonies and serious misdemeanors in federal court. Judge Jackson previously worked at the Commission from 2003-2005 as its assistant special counsel. From 2005-2007, Judge Jackson worked as an assistant federal public defender in Washington, D.C., appearing before the D.C. Circuit.

On Judge Jackson’s nomination, FBANC member and manager at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office Vilaska Nguyen states:

The highest court in our country has always seemed so distant to the most marginalized communities. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court provides more than just hope. It means that BIPOC communities will finally be afforded justice and equality under the law, and as a nation, we can finally begin to fix our broken criminal justice system.

FBANC Past President (2016-2017) and attorney at the Solano County Alternate Public Defender’s Office Christine Mari Palma Start shared:

As a former public defender and vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Judge Jackson embodies qualities of fierceness, intelligence, leadership and compassion — qualities we need in Supreme Court Justices, who make decisions that impact not just all people of the United States, but humanity itself. I am also confident that her diverse experience as a Black woman of color, attorney and mother brings forth a necessary and holistic perspective which will be integral to upholding our constitutional values of liberty, dignity and justice for all.

The White House reported earlier today, “[although] a high achiever throughout her childhood,” after Judge Jackson told her high school guidance counselor that she wanted to go to Harvard, the counselor responded that she “should not set her ‘sights so high.’” Judge Jackson not only went to Harvard, she graduated magna cum laude from the school and attended Harvard Law School, where she graduated cum laude and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Today, President Biden nominated her as the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. If confirmed, Judge Jackson would become the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice in our nation’s history.

As Filipino/a/x leaders in the law, FBANC knows the story all too well of being cast aside for not fitting the mold of who can excel in this profession. FBANC applauds this historic nomination and is staunchly committed to its 41-year-old mission to diversify the bench and the bar. We look forward to seeing other diverse leaders rise up and are here to support when called upon.

Contact FBANC President Jennifer Sta.Ana at jenniferstaana@fbanc.org for more information.