The Color of Justice
Thursday Thoughts!
Diversity on the nation’s highest court
It is important to note that since 1789, 114 white men, four white women, two Black men, and one Latina woman have served on the United States Supreme Court. For those who are kinda smart in converting percentages, yes, nearly 96% of all sitting justices have been white males!
96%!
Yesterday, as news filled the airwaves that Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, is set to retire, right on cue, right wing news media and pundits began recycling Joe Biden's presidential campaign promise that he would nominate a Black woman to the nation's highest court. From the popular Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin, to assorted angry conservative guys and gals in between, the "that's racist" cries blared out of radio speakers and on social media posts to the point of disgust!
But what these right wingers seem to forget is that their own legendary right wing president, Ronald Reagan, promised on the 1980 campaign trail to appoint the Supreme Court's first woman, which he did in 1981 by nominating Sandra Day O'Connor.
Was Reagan's promise sexist and discriminatory towards men? Of course it wasn't, just as Biden's promise to appoint a Black woman is not racist in the least!
The simple truth is that it’s long past time for a Black woman to take a seat on the Supreme Court, and the simple reality is that over the past three decades, Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump ALL had chances to select a Black woman—but did not! So kudos, in advance, to Mr. Biden—assuming that he fulfills this important promise to the most talented and loyal segment of the Democratic base—Black women!
Last, I sincerely pray that Biden and his successors will soon begin appointing Native justices, Asian justices, Muslim justices, non-religious justices, and openly LGBTQ justices to the Supreme Court so that this third rail of America's democracy can finally reflect America's diversity when deciding cases and controversies that impact us all!
Who could the next SCOTUS Justice be?
Veteran court watchers are already focusing on D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, as President Biden's likely pick.
Elaine Brown of The Atlantic perhaps broke it down the best: "(Jackson) has the same Ivy League credentials as the sitting justices, having earned both her undergraduate and her law degree from Harvard and edited for the Harvard Law Review. She clerked for three federal judges—including (Stephen) Breyer, from 1999 to 2000. If nominated and confirmed, Jackson will follow the same track as Brett Kavanaugh, who also clerked for the justice he ultimately replaced (fmr. Justice Anthony Kennedy). Also like Kavanaugh—and seven other current and former justices—Jackson would be coming directly from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the second-most important court in the country after the Supreme Court."
While there are infinitely many brilliant Black women lawyers and judges who could bring their perspicacity and unique experiences to the Supreme Court (keep an eye out for federal Judge J. Michelle Childs, a South Carolina jurist whose name has been floated by Biden's close friend, Rep. Jim Clyburn), here's hoping that once nominated, that the confirmation hearings for said nominee will be smoother than the recent controversial ones surrounding Justice Kavanaugh (rape allegations) and Justice Amy Barrett (prior written opposition to abortion).
Georgia Senate Race
In full disclosure, I am an unabashed supporter of my Morehouse Brother, fellow former Maroon Tiger Newspaper writer, and friend, Raphael Warnock, as he gears up for re-election this Fall.
Relationship fully disclosed, I was well pleased to read yesterday that in the final quarter of 2021, Sen. Warnock raised $9.8 million in campaign funds! By comparison, his Republican opponent, former football star Herschel Walker, raised only $5.4 million—this despite having been endorsed by fmr. President Donald Trump (and his considerable GOP fan base that will empty their wallets on his demand).
While there is a part of me that still wants to believe that Walker's candidacy is some cruel joke, kinda like the popular mean high school jock who pretends to be interested in the shy awkward girl just to amuse his idiotic friends, I am wise enough to not take it lightly and ask all who are willing to donate your time, talents, and tithes to do so for the Warnock 2022 campaign! Click on the following link and contribute today!
In Memoriam
Over the gate at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was an infamous sign that read "Arbeit Macht Frei," which translates from the German as "work makes one free." This slogan has always angered me when considering that the pernicious Nazis, those wretched ghouls who sent more than 4 million Jewish and Gypsy souls to their deaths at Auschwitz, knew that there was no amount of work that would save the overwhelming majority of its inhabitants from a gruesome death and cremation.
Thus, today marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Red Army liberating Auschwitz; may we forever remember all who perished as a result of Adolf Hitler's "Final Solution"—while continuing to lift our voices against tyranny and oppression around the world!
Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point—have a wonderful day!
Biden made a campaign promise to appoint a Black woman to the SC. He needs to keep that promise, if he knows what’s good for him.
I was looking at some bios last night and Judge Jackson’s is stellar. Next to her, Kavanaugh and Barrett look remedial.
Love this! I think this is just the kind of thing that crazy Governor here in VA would call divisive... you know he had a top line for people to call in divisive subjects being taught. I am going to share this with my teacher friends. 🤯