ICYMI: Senator Murray Announces Strong Support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Following Meeting – MORE HERE
Senator Murray: “Judge Jackson is one of the most exceptional Supreme Court nominees I have ever met, and I am so excited that she’s on her way to the Supreme Court. It is incredibly well deserved, and incredibly good news for our country.”
**WATCH VIDEO OF SENATOR MURRAY’S FLOOR SPEECH HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, gave a speech on the Senate floor urging her colleagues to join in voting to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. During her floor speech, Senator Murray reiterated her strong support for Judge Jackson, highlighting Jackson’s outstanding qualifications as a jurist and the historic significance her confirmation would bring to the highest court in the country.
“Judge Jackson is one of the most exceptional Supreme Court nominees I have ever met, and I am so excited that she’s on her way to the Supreme Court. It is incredibly well deserved, and incredibly good news for our country,” said Senator Murray. “The bottom line for me is always—can I tell my constituents back home in Washington state that if they ever have a case before this judge, this is someone who will listen, someone who will understand, someone who will make a thoughtful, fair decision for them based on the laws of our nation? And the answer with Judge Jackson is a resounding yes.”
“As a professional, Judge Jackson’s record doesn’t merely check the boxes we’ve come to expect from our Supreme Court nominees—a clerkship for Justice Breyer, experience as a District Court Judge and Circuit Court Judge. She also has experience that is less common on the highest court in the land, and for that reason all the more important. Like her experience on the U.S. Sentencing Commission—a perspective only the retiring Justice Breyer brought to the Supreme Court. Or her experience as a public defender—something no other Supreme Court Justice has ever had. This is so important, and so long overdue. Being a public defender means developing an in-depth understanding of the legal needs of everyday people. Judges from these kinds of legal backgrounds can be better equipped to understand the experiences of each person before them, to recognize the burdens laws often place on people who are living with low incomes or otherwise marginalized, and, ultimately, to render more informed—more just—decisions.”
“And Judge Jackson’s background is more than simply her resume. It is her perspective growing up as the daughter of two public school teachers, her perspective as a working mother with two daughters of her own, and her perspective as a Black woman, working in a profession where stories like hers were few and far between. I have no doubt that perspective will serve her, and the people who come before her, well as a Supreme Court Justice.”
“Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the land—though I am sure she will not be the last. Because I know there are little girls across the country watching as the Senate confirms someone who looks like them to the Supreme Court for the first time ever. They aren’t just watching history be made. They are watching a barrier fall down, a path open up, and a new future seems more possible than ever before.” continued Senator Murray. “I first ran for office because I watched the Supreme Court process and I was frustrated—and today I am no less energized—but for a very different reason. Today, I’m excited. I’m inspired even. And I hope people across the country watching this are too. I hope a future-Senator, or future-Justice, or even future-President is able to talk about what this moment meant to them, and what doors Justice Jackson opened for others. I am thrilled to be voting yes on this nomination, and I strongly urge every single one of my colleagues to do the same.”
Senator Murray has been a strong advocate for the confirmation of highly-qualified judicial nominees who reflect the diversity of communities in Washington state and America, pushing for greater professional diversity on the federal bench in particular. Since the start of this Congress, Senator Murray has secured the lifetime appointments of five highly qualified candidates as federal district court judges in Washington state.
Most recently, Senator Murray secured the confirmations of Tana Lin, Washington state’s first ever Asian American federal judge and a former public defender and civil rights lawyer; Lauren King, a tribal law expert who is serving as Washington state’s first ever Native American federal judge; David Estudillo, the son of Mexican immigrants and a former immigration attorney; and Kit Dimke who is serving in the Eastern District of Washington from the Spokane Courthouse. Senator Murray is currently pushing to confirm Tiffany Cartwright, a leading civil rights lawyer after recently securing the confirmation of John Chun, who will be the first Asian American man to serve as a federal judge in Washington state.
Senator Murray’s floor remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:
“M. President, I’m here to voice my strong, enthusiastic support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination, and to urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm her.
“Judge Jackson is one of the most exceptional Supreme Court nominees I have ever met, and I am so excited that she’s on her way to the Supreme Court.
“It is incredibly well deserved, and incredibly good news for our country.
“The bottom line for me is always—can I tell my constituents back home in Washington state that if they ever have a case before this judge, this is someone who will listen, someone who will understand, someone who will make a thoughtful, fair decision for them based on the laws of our nation?
“And the answer with Judge Jackson is a resounding yes.
“It’s clear from her record that she has the experience.
“It was clear from her hearing she has a masterful understanding of the law, and a seemingly endless supply of—perhaps unwarranted—patience.
“And I think it’s clear to anyone, after a few minutes with her, that she has heart, compassion, and a commitment to justice.
“So it should be no surprise her nomination was met with wide acclaim, including from prominent Republican lawyers, and retired judges appointed by Republican presidents.
“As a professional, Judge Jackson’s record doesn’t merely check the boxes we’ve come to expect from our Supreme Court nominees—a clerkship for Justice Breyer, experience as a District Court Judge and Circuit Court Judge.
“She also has experience that is less common on the highest court in the land, and for that reason all the more important.
“Like her experience on the U.S. Sentencing Commission—a perspective only the retiring Justice Breyer brought to the Supreme Court.
“Or her experience as a public defender—something no other Supreme Court Justice has ever had.
“M. President this is so important, and so long overdue.
“Being a public defender means developing an in-depth understanding of the legal needs of everyday people.
“Judges from these kinds of legal backgrounds can be better equipped to understand the experiences of each person before them, to recognize the burdens laws often place on people who are living with low incomes or otherwise marginalized, and, ultimately, to render more informed—more just—decisions.
“And Judge Jackson’s background is more than simply her resume.
“It is her perspective growing up as the daughter of two public school teachers, her perspective as a working mother with two daughters of her own, and her perspective as a Black woman, working in a profession where stories like hers were few and far between.
“I have no doubt that perspective will serve her, and the people who come before her, well as a Supreme Court Justice.
“And while her personal history tells us a lot—the way she gracefully and knowledgeably handled her confirmation hearings shows us even more.
“During a confirmation process that some Republicans tried to make incredibly ugly, she showed the kind of poise and patience befitting a United States Supreme Court Justice.
“Over the course of hundreds of questions, she offered thoughtful answers that demonstrated an expert understanding of the law, a carefully considered methodology for how she approaches each case and an unmistakable commitment to ensuring justice and upholding the liberties of all Americans—not just the powerful and well-connected.
“This is so important, especially at a time when so many rights are under attack.
“We continue to see Republicans pushing through blatantly unconstitutional laws on the right to abortion.
“And we are seeing the tragic consequences of these reckless restrictions every day.
“We are also seeing attacks on the rights of workers as they seek to organize, form unions, and fight for a better workplace.
“We are even seeing attacks on the cornerstone of our democracy—the right to vote, as Republicans have continually pushed through measures to block the ballot box, and some even continue to dangerously deny the legitimacy of the last election.
“We need a Supreme Court Justice who understands, as Judge Jackson once put it: ‘Presidents are not kings.’
“Someone who understands equal justice is for all, not just the wealthy and the powerful.
“There are so many critical issues which come before the Court that matter deeply to the American people—cases about workers’ rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, tribal sovereignty, climate change, gun safety, immigration, and so much more.
“My constituents deserve to know the Justices hearing these cases, are really going to listen to their concerns, understand their experiences, uphold our constitution, and defend their rights.
“They deserve a Justice as thoughtful, compassionate, and committed as Ketanji Brown Jackson
“M. President, I first ran for Senate because of the Supreme Court. Watching the hearings with Anita Hill, I was frustrated that there was no one on the dais who looked like me, no one asking the questions I would ask.
“And for most of the country, throughout most of our history—our courts have been the same way.
“They have not represented the diversity of our nation—not by a long shot.
“I’m proud to say we are finally fixing that, including in my home state of Washington, and soon we will take another historic step at the highest level possible.
“We will vote to put another mom on the Supreme Court.
“Ketanji Brown Jackson will make history as the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the land—though I am sure she will not be the last.
“Because I know there are little girls across the country watching as the Senate confirms someone who looks like them to the Supreme Court for the first time ever.
“They aren’t just watching history be made.
“They are watching a barrier fall down, a path open up, and a new future seems more possible than ever before.
“I first ran for office because I watched the Supreme Court process and I was frustrated.
“And today I am no less energized—but for a very different reason.
“Today, I’m excited. I’m inspired even. And I hope people across the country watching this are too.
“I hope a future-Senator, or future-Justice, or even future-President is able to talk about what this moment meant to them, and what doors Justice Jackson opened for others.
“I am thrilled to be voting yes on this nomination, and I strongly urge every single one of my colleagues to do the same.”
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