Op-Ed: Rockland Lawmakers Praise Supreme Court Justice Confirmation

From County Legislators Jay Hood Jr., Aney Paul, Alden H. Wolfe, Phil Soskin, Michael Grant, Itamar Yeger, Toney Earl and Aron Wieder

Today, we witness history that is long overdue – the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court – the first Black woman to be seated on the nation’s highest court. Justice Jackson is well qualified and an experienced jurist who brings a new diversity and life experience to the nation’s most revered courtroom.

The U.S. Supreme Court was established in 1789 and for most of its life, the seats that compromise its bench were held by men of Northwestern European descent who were almost always Protestant. But our nation’s diversity has always been wider and thankfully the bench has changed to better reflect all of America’s peoples.

With Justice Jackson’s confirmation, we are thrilled to see a Supreme Court that today includes men and women, Christians and Jews, Blacks, Whites, a Latina, and even the son of an Italian immigrant. Justice Jackson is just the third Black person to serve on the court and just the sixth woman. While it took 233 years to include a Black woman on the court, we are nonetheless thrilled to see Justice Jackson confirmed to the bench.

Justice Jackson will undoubtedly inspire bigger dreams among young women and girls, especially young Black women and girls, who have never before had a role model in the form of a member of the highest court in the land.

We offer Justice Jackson our sincerest congratulations and best wishes for a long career built on the bedrock of our revered Constitution and that which is right.