Seventeen Black women and 14 Black men currently serve on their state’s highest court. Some of those women described delight at Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, but also suggested there’s more work to be done.
“I am so proud and optimistic about her accomplishment and what this means,” said Justice Melissa Long of Rhode Island’s Supreme Court.
Long, who joined her state’s high court in 2021, also feels a “great sense of connection” to Jackson. They were born 10 days apart in 1970 in Washington, D.C. Long’s parents had married in the city because laws against interracial marriage,Being the first Black woman and first person of color on her state’s five-member court “feels like a responsibility,” Long said. “It’s an important responsibility, but it does feel like a responsibility.
That’s in part because diversity overall on state courts is lacking. People of color make up 17% of the judges on state supreme courts, but as of last year, 22 states had high courts where no member identified as a person of color, according to the Brennan Center. In 11 of those states, minorities make up at least 20% of the population, according to the Brennan Center. About 30% of all federal judges, meanwhile, identify as people of color.
The history of Black women serving on their state’s highest court goes back to 1988 when Juanita Kidd Stout joined Pennsylvania’s highest court. That was seven years after Justice Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Stout served for a year before she reached the mandatory age of retirement. Today, the four men and three women on Pennsylvania’s highest court are all white.
Other state high courts are more diverse. Maryland has two Black women on its highest court, the Court of Appeals, where members wear red robes with white collars and are called judge, not justice. Judge
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is and isn't 1st Black female justice - New York Amsterdam NewsShirley Troutman, a judge on New York's highest court, was working last week when her daughter texted messages that included a clapping hands emoji. Soon, her phone was buzzing with other celebratory messages
Read more »
Senate Dems target Black media markets with ad hitting GOP for opposing Jackson nominationSenate Democrats are launching an ad campaign in Black media markets blasting Republicans for opposing incoming Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Read more »
Miya Ponsetto, who falsely accused Black teen of stealing cellphone, due in courtMiya Ponsetto, who falsely accused Black teen of stealing cellphone, due in court for plea deal.
Read more »
Facing invasive treatments for uterine fibroids, Black women advocate for better careResearch still cannot pinpoint why Black women are more susceptible to fibroids, but many Black patients are questioning why they're being steered so quickly to more invasive treatments when options are available.
Read more »
Keke Palmer Scores Big For Black Women And Liberation In 'Alice' Now Streaming On DemandKeke Palmer stars in 'Alice' a revenge thriller set in the antebellum-era south directed by Krystin Ver Linden. The film explores ideas of freedom and self-reliance as liberation.
Read more »
Black Maternal Health Week shines spotlight on inequities affecting pregnant womenBlack Maternal Health Week began Monday, April 11, and runs through April 17, 2022. The initiative was created several years by Black Mamas Matter Alliance to bring national awareness to health issues affecting Black pregnant women.
Read more »