Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and the Presumption of Merit

After four days of hearings, 40 hours of testimony—and more than 230 years—we have finally witnessed what it takes for a Black woman to gain admission into the Supreme Court. Under intense and unforgiving scrutiny, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was a model of restraint, discernment and excellence. She was sharp enough to be understood, and subtle enough to avoid answering inappropriate questions. She was insightful enough to illuminate the complexities of the law and opaque enough to avoid being forced into a box. Nimble but steady, tough yet flexible, unfailingly polite though never a pushover, Jackson gave one of the… Read Full Article