Washington, DC —Today, national faith leaders joined together outside on the steps of the United States Supreme Court Building to speak out in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation.
Additionally, 2,000 faith leaders from across the country have signed a letter addressed to the U.S. Senate calling for Judge Jackson’s nomination.
The letter reads in part, “As faith leaders from many traditions, we all hold firmly to the values of freedom, human dignity, and equal justice under the law. That is why we call on the Senate to quickly confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
Co-Sponsoring Organizations include: Faith in Public Life, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress Religion and Faith, National Council of Jewish Women, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Interfaith Power and Light and People For the American Way
For video of the event, click here. To read the full letter and list of signers, click here.
QUOTES FROM FAITH LEADERS:
Reverend Leslie Watson Wilson, People For National Director of African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA)
"Members of the African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA) network are walking in our faith, full confidence, and complete celebration that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be confirmed as the next associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the face of some vile attacks during this nomination process, Judge Jackson, who is extraordinarily well-qualified, has shown us her complete command and respect for the rule of law, backed by her extensive experience and passion for public service. She is the epitome of resilience, dignity, and compassion. She has supported the rights of the most vulnerable among us and she'll work hard to ensure that equal justice under law is a reality for all Americans. We look forward to her confirmation."
Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life
“My Christian tradition teaches me about the values of justice, freedom and human dignity. I know these values are shared across the many traditions represented in this letter. Our highest court must also uphold these values. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is exceptionally qualified and has a proven record as a champion for everyday people from all backgrounds. While a wealthy and powerful few attempt to strip away our freedoms, Judge Jackson will protect our freedom to vote, our access to reproductive care and our equality under the law. I urge the Senate to quickly confirm Judge Jackson and take this historic step toward a court that honors and reflects the dignity of all.”
Dana Gershon, President, National Council of Jewish Women
“In the Jewish tradition, we learn from the Torah: Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof, Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue. This verse is situated in the context of talking about a fair judiciary to ensure fair outcomes for people. This has been Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s guiding light — equality for all. Her record demonstrates she will protect all people and we are coming together, across faiths, to speak with one voice in support of confirming the extremely qualified Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.”
Kanya Shabazz, Deputy Executive Director, Muslim Advocates
"We need someone on the Supreme Court who understands that everyone should be able to practice their faith and live a life free from discrimination. That person is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson."
Mary J. Novak, Executive Director, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice:
“Judge Jackson’s work to eliminate racial disparities in sentencing and her call for robust public defense systems to ensure fair outcomes demonstrate her profound regard for the human dignity of all who become involved in the criminal legal system. This is Just Mercy. On behalf of NETWORK’s 100,000 members and supporters, we express our strong support for the swift and historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court.”
Imam Dr Talib Shareef, President, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque
“As Dr. King said about the bad check, “we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt…that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation,…” so we as Faith leaders are standing up and speaking out to the Senate to cash the check and confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.”
Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, DignityUSA
“As a Catholic lesbian faith leader, I am proud to endorse the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. I fervently hope her confirmation is supported by the full range of Americans, across all races, genders, ages, political affiliations, classes, abilities, educational levels, and geographies. She is an exceptional jurist who will help our nation live into its ideals.”
Melissa Balaban, CEO, IKAR
“In the spirit of Passover, if we knew only of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s prodigious legal skills, manifest decency, and abundant fortitude, that would have been enough to appoint her to the Supreme Court. But when combined with her brilliant and patient performance in the face of bad faith and hypocritical questioning, it could not be more obvious that appointing her to the US Supreme Court will be a significant step towards perfecting our beautiful and, as yet, imperfect Union.”
Cherisse Scott. CEO and Founder, SisterReach
“Confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a step in the right direction for the country and builds confidence among Black women that our expertise is taken seriously as stakeholders in this country's progress and future.”
Jamie L. Manson, President, Catholics for Choice
“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a fair, impartial, and balanced arbiter of the law. Last week’s hearings revealed a brilliant, compassionate, and empathetic jurist who never fails to see the real human beings in front of her and the human impact of her decisions. Her rulings in favor of unions, environmental protections, and reproductive justice align with our Catholic social justice values of human dignity, justice for the poor and marginalized, and responsible stewardship of the earth. We have no doubt that Judge Jackson is committed to protecting our most precious fundamental rights and upholding true religious freedom, which includes both freedom of and freedom from religion. She will make an excellent Supreme Court justice. The Senate should confirm her now.”
Matt Nosanchuk, President, New York Jewish Agenda
“I met Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson when she was a second-year law student, and I was interviewing candidates for summer associate positions at my firm. She was incredibly impressive then as now, and we were fortunate that she came for the summer and later joined the firm as an associate. While it is impossible to predict accurately that a law student will end up one day being nominated to serve on the Supreme Court, Judge Jackson stood out from the first time that I met her. Her talent, combined with her many accomplishments and experience, have brought her to the precipice of making history. Now it is up to the Senate to bring her over the finish line by confirming her.”
Reverend Burl Salmon, Chairperson of the Clergy Advisory Board, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
“In a moment in our nation's history where our democracy is in peril and the right is doubling down on its efforts to exclude and further marginalize communities of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities and other historically oppressed communities, we have an incredible Supreme Court nominee to meet this very moment. As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to ensure Judge Jackson — herself a woman of deep faith and integrity, who has demonstrated throughout her career her commitment to equality under the law — is confirmed to the high court.”
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
“The highest court in the country should accurately reflect the communities it serves, both through diverse perspectives and thoughtful interpretation. As demonstrated during her confirmation hearing, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has the superior intellect and impeccable temperament that every judge should emulate and will make the Court more representative of the country that it serves.”
Reverend Katey Zeh, CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
“Throughout her career as a public servant and federal judge, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has upheld the values that the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice considers most sacred: justice, fairness, freedom, and dignity. We call on the Senate to confirm her swiftly to the Supreme Court where she will continue to be a champion for these cherished values on behalf of all people.”
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President and CEO, Reconstructing Judaism
“A commitment to justice—through deliberative process and potent action—is a bedrock value of Jewish wisdom and practice. It’s also a guiding principle for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whose record and experience demonstrate a commitment to equal justice for all under the law. I urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court.”
Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Washington Director, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
“Even as she faced an onslaught of racist and sexist attacks and double standards from right-wing politicians and media, Judge Jackson showed her unwavering commitment to protecting civil rights and valuing the lived experiences of everyone in this country, no matter their race or background. Our Jewish community rises with joy and in hope with Judge Jackson for a country where all of us are safe and free, and we look forward to celebrating this monumental step toward equal justice when she is confirmed.”
Rabbi David Saperstein, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
“The biblical depiction of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai is enshrined over the front door and on the wall of the Supreme Court chamber itself. From that time until this, the idea of judges who use law to protect the rights and freedoms of the people has represented the cherished values, hopes, and dreams for Jews, indeed for all those seeking justice and freedom everywhere."
Orlan Johnson, Director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church
“The Conscience and Justice Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church would like to pray that during the confirmation process of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson that we continue to work tirelessly become more of a country where it is understandable that we are all different but do not have to be divided. We also do not have to be partisan as a challenge to demonstrate our patriotism.”
Shannon Russell, Director of Policy, Catholics for Choice
"May God continue to bless Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and may the Senate confirm her into the Supreme Court."
Rev. Patrick Young, National Baptist Convention
"We already picked the right person, now it's time for [Senate] to do the right thing. Because Judge is going to do the right thing."
Reverend Wanda Outlaw, NE Imani Fellowship
"We stand united. Lord you have seen what the enemy can do. Judge Jackson has walked through the valley but she has persevered, they questioned her integrity she has persevered, we employ you to bring her to her rightful seat in SCOTUS."
Maggie Siddiqi, Senior Director, Religion and Faith, Center for American Progress
"My faith is important to me. Our nation is one of rich religious diversity. It is clear that Judge Jackson is committed to our religious pluralistic democracy."
Reverend Leslye Dwight, Community of Hope AME Church
"Based on her consistency, I stand here, based on her commitment to justice, I stand here."
Reverend George Gilbert, Center for Racial Equity and Justice
"Judge Jackson is here to bring some Blackness into some white walls. She is here to bring the experience as a Black mother into the white walls. To bring the Black experience to a country who has ignored our cries."
Reverend Susan Hendershot, President, Interfaith Power and Light
"It is long past time for a Black women to have a seat on the highest court. We urge the Senate to confirm her swiftly.”
Reverend A. Wayne Johnson, General Secretary, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
“Judge Jackson is qualified and capable to serve on the highest court. We pray Judge Jackson will be confirmed expeditiously with the same respect as her peers."
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About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.