Kentaji Brown Jackson Sworn In As First Black Female Supreme Court Justice.

Kentaji Brown Jackson, has taken the American judicial oath. This makes her the first Black female Supreme Court Justice.

According to The New York Times, Justice Jackson took two oaths on Thursday, a judicial oath and a constitutional oath which was administered by Chief Justice John. G. Roberts Jr. 

Justice Jackson has replaced Justice Stephen G. Breyer who stepped down on Friday, upon the conclusion of the current term at the court.

“It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we’ve made it! We’ve made it — all of us,” Justice Jackson said.

Prior to the historical swearing in on Thursday, Justice Jackson was confirmed in April following a vote by the Senate regarding her nomination.

Present during the brief swearing in ceremony were Judge Jackson’s family including her two daughters and her husband Dr Patrick G. Jackson. 

Commenting on the swearing in whilst shaking her hand, Chief Justice Roberts said, “I’m pleased to welcome Justice Jackson to the court and to our common calling”.

Although he added that there would be a formal investiture in the fall, he remarked that the oaths would “allow her to undertake her duties and she’s been anxious to get to them without any further delay”. 

Justice Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Miami. She graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Justice Breyer’s alma mater, and clerked for him during the 1999-2000 Supreme Court term.

Ms Jackson served eight years as a federal trial court judge and was confirmed in June 2021 for a seat on the US Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia.