Federal Courts and Nominations

CAC Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee in Support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Nomination to U.S. Supreme Court

As defenders of the Constitution and the rule of law, CAC has a vested interest in nominations to the federal courts. There are no nominations more important than those to the Supreme Court, one of the most powerful arbiters of constitutional liberties and protections. The American people are entitled to Supreme Court justices who will not only safeguard the whole Constitution, but also treat each litigant fairly and with dignity, and serve as an impartial, independent check on the President and Congress.

It is with these considerations in mind that CAC reviewed the record of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joseph Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson’s judicial record shows that she is an exceptional jurist, whose many well-reasoned opinions, authored during her tenure as a judge on the District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, reflect her deep commitment to enforcing the Constitution’s text, structure, history, and values.

Judge Jackson has authored hundreds of opinions on many important issues of law. In this letter, we focus on five areas in which Judge Jackson has written significant constitutional rulings: (1) separation-of-powers and rule of law; (2) freedom of speech; (3) police violence and police abuse of power; (4) equal protection; and (5) criminal justice. These rulings show that she is a superb, fair-minded jurist. She should be confirmed to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Constitution and the American people require a Supreme Court that will respect the text, history, and values of the whole Constitution, and serve as an independent check on the elected branches of government. Judge Jackson’s record shows that she passes this test of constitutional fidelity with flying colors. The Constitutional Accountability Center supports Judge Jackson’s nomination to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, and urges that she be reported out of committee favorably. We also look forward to her prompt consideration and confirmation by the full Senate.

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