WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed released the following statement today following his vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the 116th U.S. Supreme Court Justice in history and the first Black woman and former public defender to ever serve on the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Judge Jackson is an extraordinary talent who reflects and represents the very best of our nation.  Throughout her distinguished career, Judge Jackson has proven herself as a defender of America’s core principles and freedoms, a protector of civil liberties, and an impartial arbiter of justice.  As the first federal public defender on the Supreme Court, she will bring a valuable perspective to the Court’s decisions.

“She is living proof that through hard work, determination, and perseverance, you can achieve your dreams.  Her confirmation is a personal achievement that also signals a sense of national belonging for millions of Americans, including women, and especially, Black women.  It’s long past time America had a Black woman on the Supreme Court.  Justice Jackson is the first and certainly won’t be the last. I believe she will be among the very best to serve on the highest court in the land. 

“As another racial barrier falls we must once again thank those brave Americans who fought and sacrificed for our civil rights -- those who marched and rallied and persevered in places like Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall, and so many others.  It is up to us to continue that climb toward true equality for all and fulfill the promise of our nation’s founding principles.”