As Senate Begins Hearing on Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Norton Says, Without Statehood, D.C. Will Play No Role in Confirmation

Statement

Today, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary began its hearing on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom President Biden nominated to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. President Obama nominated Jackson for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on the recommendation of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

"District of Columbia residents take great pride in seeing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom I recommended to President Obama for the U.S. District Court for D.C., nominated for the Supreme Court, the highest court in our nation," Norton said. "Judge Jackson, who was born in the District, lives in the District, and was a public defender in the District, is the first Black woman ever nominated to the Supreme Court. I have full faith in Judge Jackson's considerable abilities and sense of fairness, and I am proud to have recommended her for the U.S. District Court for D.C. I look forward to seeing her embark on a new chapter of important work on behalf of our country.

"However, today also reminds us of the stark reality that despite Judge Jackson's connections to D.C., without statehood, the District has no senators and, therefore, will play no role in her confirmation. The lack of voting representation in Congress for D.C. residents can be remedied by Senate passage of and the President's signature on my D.C. statehood bill, which has passed the House twice."

President Biden, like Presidents Clinton and Obama, granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend judges on the U.S. District Court for D.C., the U.S. Attorney for D.C., the U.S. Marshal for the D.C. Superior Court, and the U.S. Marshal for the U.S. District Court for D.C. Norton has established a nominating commission, comprised of lawyers and non-lawyers from all eight wards in D.C., to screen applicants and to make recommendations to her for the senatorial courtesy positions.

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