Dean Hackney Signs Letter of Support for Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brown Jackson
03.08.22 — Northeastern Law Dean James Hackney is among 38 Black law school deans who have sent a letter of support too the U.S. Senate Leadership and the Committee on the Judiciary for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the United States Supreme Court.
The letter references Judge Jackson’s vast experience, including clerking for three federal judges and working in private practice as well as her commitment to public service. Judge Jackson worked to reduce disparities in federal sentencing on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, first as assistant special counsel and then as vice chair and Commissioner. Finally, she represented indigent criminal defendants as an assistant federal public defender.
In 2013, Judge Jackson was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. During her seven years as a trial judge on that court she presided over a wide range of cases and wrote more than 550 opinions to resolve disputes.
“President Biden’s historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court is a reflection of Judge Jackson’s impeccable credentials and the importance of diversity of backgrounds for the fair disposition of justice in the United States,” said Hackney. Since its formation in 1790, 115 justices have been seated on the United States Supreme Court. For nearly 200 years, all were white men. The first woman was appointed in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan fulfilled his campaign promise by naming Sandra Day O’Connor as associate justice to the high court. Since that date, only five women have served on the Supreme Court, and none have been Black.
The letter urges Senate leadership and the Committee on the Judiciary for a swift confirmation. Each signer notes they are signing in their individual capacity, but remain unified in their belief that Judge Jackson is exceptionally well qualified and well prepared to serve on this nation’s highest court.
See the full letter here.
About Northeastern University School of Law
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,000 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu.