FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The United State Senate confirmed today a historic nominee for The Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will fill Justice Stephen Breyer’s seat when he retires later this year. Judge Brown Jackson will be the first Black female and public defender to sit on The Supreme Court. The final vote was 53-47.

During her confirmation hearing, Judge Jackson demonstrated that she is unequivocally qualified for the Supreme Court. She also had a proven track record of attracting bipartisan support in the Senate - she’s been confirmed three times on a bipartisan vote. Some on the committee tried to mischaracterize Judge Jackson’s record and views and were combative in their questioning. Judge Jackson showed the poise and temperament required for a Supreme Court justice.

To no one’s surprise, Missouri’s two sitting Senators voted against this historic nomination.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement on the

“Today is more than historic. It is a sign of hope. We watched Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson show incredible grace under pressure for over more than 20 hours of questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some of the Senators, including Missouri’s Junior Senator, were combative and frankly, ill-informed and ignorant. But today, they do not celebrate. We do. Judge Brown Jackson is a Justice now,” said Butler.

In addition, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement:

“The Democratic Caucus in the U.S. Senate gave our country a huge gift today: the return of general hope for a respectful, educated and non-politicized Supreme Court. We sat and watched the last two nominees talk about their love of beer leading to credible allegations of sexual assault and a woman who is determined to legislate her fellow women’s bodies. Ketanji Brown Jackson is unequivocally qualified for this prominent and extraordinary Supreme Court Justice seat. We aren’t happy because we think she is a Democrat – we are elated that the Supreme Court will move in the direction of integrity and honor with the historic confirmation of Justice Brown Jackson,” said Dunn.