As Senate Debates and Votes on Jackson Nomination to Supreme Court, Norton Says D.C. Will Play No Role in Confirmation Without Statehood

Statement

This week, the Senate will debate and vote on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson 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). Jackson was confirmed by voice vote for the U.S. District Court for D.C.

"District of Columbia residents will take great pride in seeing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed by the Senate to the Supreme Court," 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 to be nominated for the Supreme Court. I am proud to have recommended her to President Obama for the U.S. District Court for D.C.

"However, this week's debate and vote also remind us of the stark reality that despite Judge Jackson's connections to D.C. and my recommendation of her, 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 and the President's signature on my D.C. statehood bill, which has passed the House twice."

Because D.C. lacks senators to recommend candidates for some positions, Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend judges for 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.

Norton wrote an op-ed recently about how Jackson's nomination for the Supreme Court highlights the exclusion of D.C. residents from the confirmation process.

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