At noon today, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first Black woman Justice in the 233 year history of the U.S. Supreme Court. Alone in my apartment, I watched the brief ceremony with tears brimming, a great big lump in my throat, my heart full to overflowing. It's an unsettled time on the Roberts court, with many in our nation losing faith in what feels like a right wing stranglehold on the institution. But with the ascent of Justice Jackson to this highest tribunal in the land, I felt my faith in the future of the court being renewed. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice," MLK famously said. I believe Justice Jackson to be a consensus builder, a woman of great intellect, impeccable credentials on the bench, and abiding humanity. "Hope is not a form of guarantee, it's a form of energy, and very frequently that energy is strongest in circumstances that are very dark," said the artist John Berger. Our political reality may seem very dark in this moment, but Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson brings the light. Long may she reign.
Yes. She brings light and hope to the Supreme Court. My eyes filled with tears today too. Long may she reign.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad she's here, but I do wonder if she can influence the gang of six. Biden said today it's time to put a hole in the filibuster (finally) and codify Roe. It may be too little, too late.
ReplyDeleteLots of too little, too late going on
DeleteAmen.
ReplyDelete"She is a consensus builder, a woman of great intellect, impeccable credentials on the bench, and abiding humanity. " Long may she reign indeed!
ReplyDeleteWould her vote have preserved Roe v. Wade?
ReplyDelete"Hope is not a form of guarantee, it's a form of energy, and very frequently that energy is strongest in circumstances that are very dark."
ReplyDeleteHer splendid energy brings physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual light where it is much needed. Grateful to have lived to see this day.
Just when i was fixin' to stab Scotus in the heart, Ketanji moves in to save the day and possibly the court. Brilliant woman, the brilliant-est! Ruth would be pleased.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I feel so depressed in general, even afraid (not in the bodily sense but deep, psychic fear). The Berger quote and your words help to lift me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKBJ is our shining bright light for the future.
ReplyDeleteAmen. A bright light, instead. We certainly need it, that's for certain.
ReplyDeleteComment from up here - it's about damn time! Wish we had someone like her on our bench.
ReplyDeleteThe only bright spot from SCOTUS this week is KBJ!
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you're right. I feel most likely those far right misogynist racists will just ignore her. We need to expand the court to provide some balance.
ReplyDeleteI like the John Berger quote, and I fall back on that MLK quote (in my own mind, at least) quite often -- especially these days! Congrats to Justice Jackson and may she be another point of progress on that long arc.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those rare pieces of good news in these disturbing times. "Long may she reign" - YES!
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