Trail-blazing Illinois women ‘beyond thrilled’ Justice Jackson sworn in as first Black woman on Supreme Court

For Prepare dinner County State’s Lawyer Kim Foxx, the swearing in of U.S. Supreme Courtroom Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday sparked blended feelings — a disheartening feeling that it took so lengthy for a Black lady to rise to the nation’s prime courtroom and elation that it lastly occurred.

“I feel Ketanji, her identify, the way in which she wears her hair, her pores and skin tone, what meaning for me as a dark-skinned Black lady lawyer to see myself mirrored in her presence — and she or he’s sensible — is what I’m completely satisfied my daughters get to see,” Foxx informed the Chicago Solar-Instances on Thursday.

Jackson, a federal choose since 2013, on Thursday grew to become the primary Black lady elevated to the nation’s highest courtroom, taking the place of the jurist she as soon as labored for, Justice Stephen Breyer, whose retirement was efficient at midday.

Jackson now joins three different girls on the 9–member courtroom.

Foxx, who was the primary Black lady elected because the county’s prime prosecutor, is among the many state’s elected officers who had been beaming with pleasure as Jackson was sworn in.

“I’m elated as a result of lastly, after tons of of years, to have that illustration on the courtroom. It shouldn’t have taken that lengthy,” Foxx informed the Solar-Instances as she left a White Home assembly with fellow prosecuting attorneys to debate insurance policies across the criminalization of HIV and AIDS.

“So once I say blended feelings, I do know that there have been certified, imminently certified, Black girls who had been able to take their place all through historical past. And so, the truth that we’re in 2022 right here with the primary appointment, is a little bit dispiriting. However I’m elated that we’re right here.”

“I’m past thrilled, past thrilled.” Foxx mentioned.

Toni Preckwinkle, who made historical past in 2010 by changing into the primary Black lady to be elected Prepare dinner County Board president, mentioned she was happy with Jackson and grateful to President Joe Biden for nominating her.

“It’s actually an affirmation, and she or he has an excellent report of which we are able to all be proud. So, I want her nicely,” Preckwinkle mentioned. “I feel the extra progressive members of the courtroom are in for a tough slog right here, given the truth that we now have six very conservative judges on the courtroom, however I’m positive she’ll maintain her personal.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the primary Black lady to function mayor of Chicago, was among the many Illinois Democrats who trekked to Washington, D.C., on April 8 to rejoice Jackson’s nomination on the White Home garden.

On Thursday, Lightfoot tweeted that Jackson is “now a historical past maker.”

“Younger ladies in America in all places can look to her & be impressed to comply with in her footsteps,” Lightfoot tweeted. “Justice Brown Jackson’s various lived expertise now represented on the bench is extra precious than ever. Justice Brown Jackson’s ascension to the bench now tells the world that the seemingly not possible is feasible. So proud!”

And Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who in 2019 grew to become the state’s first Black lieutenant governor and the primary Black lady to function a constitutional officer in state historical past, mentioned the swearing in is a reminder of hope “as widespread assaults on girls’s rights proceed throughout the nation.”

“Simply final week, the nation noticed the U.S. Supreme Courtroom take away a lady’s proper to decide on,” Stratton mentioned in an announcement. “At the moment, we rejoice as a result of girls’s voices won’t be silenced. We’ll push ahead and break glass ceilings. Might this historic second drive us to proceed standing up and talking out so we could also be seen and heard.”