IN THE PROFESSION
We asked retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice and Atlanta Bar Member Leah Ward Sears to reflect on the significance of Jackson ’ s selection . Sears is ideal for this because she also was a series of firsts , including , the first African-American female Chief Justice of any state supreme court in the United States . Further , when initially appointed , Sears was Georgia ’ s first woman justice and the youngest justice to sit on the Georgia Supreme Court .
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My Personal Reflections on the Selection of New Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
JUSTICE LEAH WARD SEARS Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP lsears @ sgrlaw . com
Unfortunately , it took more than two centuries for an African American woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court . The wait was far too long , but I do not doubt that Ketanji Brown Jackson is the perfect jurist for the job . She deserves to join the ranks of Thurgood Marshall ( first African American justice ), Sandra Day O ’ Connor ( first woman justice ), and Sonia Sotomayor ( first Latinx justice ). As with those judicial trailblazers , I believe Judge Jackson will shatter the glass ceiling with honor and help make our country a better place .
Why will America be better with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson serving on our highest court ? Her ascension reminds us of the core principles upon which our nation was founded — that anything is possible regardless of your race , ethnicity , gender , or religion if you work hard , persist , and keep the faith . During her difficult , often unfairly so , confirmation process , some senators suggested that Jackson ’ s racial diversity was a drawback . That nominating a black woman was somehow unrepresentative of our country . The truth is that our courts and most important offices function at their best and most fair when their members are diverse and employ a range of backgrounds .
Of the 115 justices who have served on the Supreme Court , 108 have been white men . Black women are sorely underrepresented in our judicial system . I believe that Judge Jackson ’ s confirmation will have a lasting positive effect and open new doors for the next generation of black women who want to be judges and lawyers .
As even some of her detractors have conceded , Judge Jackson is highly qualified to serve as a U . S . Supreme Court justice . The Senate had previously confirmed her three times for federal positions , and she ’ s currently serving on the nation ’ s second-highest court , the District of Columbia Circuit Court . However , I think her time serving as a public defender brings a unique perspective lacking on the Supreme Court . As a federal public defender , she represented low-income defendants and experienced how the legal system operates for those who society often forgets .
In the five decades since my first judicial appointment , seeing the playing field become more level for people with different cultures , ethnicities , and backgrounds has been fulfilling . As diversity continues to grow , I hope to see the day when even more women and people of color sit at tables of influence . Perhaps this country is making progress . Of course , as with anything , we will only know for sure with time and the continuing efforts of many . In the meantime , Judge Jackson ’ s selection is a historic moment of pure joy that I will celebrate . www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 11