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Ketanji Brown JacksonHANDOUT
The U.S. made history on Thursday as Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve in the Supreme Court.
The 51-year-old’s appointment by Democratic President Joe Biden means white men are not in the majority on the nation’s highest court for the first time in 233 years.
While Justice Jackson’s confirmation is a milestone, it would not change the 6-3 conservative majority in the court, which has come under fire for recent rulings broadening the right to bear arms and eviscerating abortion rights.
Justice Jackson spoke only to say her oaths during Thursday’s brief ceremony.
The appointment presents an opportunity for Biden administration to pivot from a spate of bad news in recent months, with Mr. Biden’s poll ratings still languishing below 40% amid runaway inflation ahead of midterm elections in November.
Four of the Justices on the nine-member court are now women, making it the most diverse bench in history.
