Supreme Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets formal induction before new term : NPR
United States Supreme Court Collection
Before the Supreme Court’s term begins next week, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has joined the enthronement ceremony Friday. Both President Biden, whose campaign promised to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and Vice President Harris, attended.
Jackson was sworn in as justice – and made history as the first Black woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court. In June, she was sworn twice: the constitutional oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, and the judicial oath, administered by outgoing Justice Stephen Breyer, for whom Jackson replaced.
The ordination was more formal, but significant to Jackson’s historic role. Members of the press were not allowed to record video or audio, but photographs of the event were provided by the court.
Other guests attending the brief ceremony were Jackson’s parents, her brother, her husband, and two daughters. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also attended, as did former House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is related to Jackson through marriage. A number of spouses of other Supreme Court Justices were also present, including Ginni Thomas, who was recently questioned by the House committee investigation of the January 6 uprising.
Attorney General Merrick Garland was also present and played a key role in the ceremony.
Follow Supreme Court, ceremony attended by Jackson:
escorted by the Clerk of the Court, Scott Harris, to the well of the Courtroom, where she will sit in the chair that Chief Justice John Marshall used in the early 19th century. This chair has been used by everyone. member of the Court since Lewis F. Powell, Jr., was sworn in before the law in 1972.
Chief Justice John Roberts will then give Jackson a second judicial oath and Jackson will then be escorted to her designated seat on the far right of the court. Once they have taken their seats, the special session of the court will be adjourned.