ACS Calls Out Distorted and Racist Attacks by Some Senators against Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pablo Willis, pwillis@acslaw.org   

 Washington, DC — Executive Vice President of the American Constitution Society Zinelle October released the following statement on the third day of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's historic confirmation hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 “We are profoundly disappointed that certain Senators have used this historic confirmation hearing to grandstand and to make blatantly unfounded and aggressive attacks in an attempt to distort Judge Jackson’s qualifications and her record as a judge. The repeated use of racist and dog-whistle politics is reprehensible and is compounded by the insistence of these same Senators to endlessly interrupt Judge Jackson and prevent her from answering questions. This disrespectful behavior continues an alarming trend that we have witnessed throughout the last year during the confirmation hearings of women of color. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Senator Durbin and others to call out this behavior and to correct the record.

 None of these racist antics or distortions can undermine the truth: Judge Jackson is exceptionally well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. Her perspective, as a Black woman, as a former public defender, as someone with nearly nine years of judicial experience already, would strengthen the Court’s deliberations and help the Court understand how its decisions would impact people’s lives.”- Zinelle October, ACS Executive Vice President.

###

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY

ACS believes that the Constitution is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” We interpret the Constitution based on its text and against the backdrop of history and lived experience. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, and many others, we work to uphold the Constitution in the 21st Century by ensuring that law is a force for protecting our democracy and the public interest and for improving people’s lives. For more information, visit us at www.acslaw.org or on Twitter @acslaw.