Ketanji Brown Jackson becomes first Black woman confirmed to Supreme Court

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed Thursday to become the 116th Supreme Court Justice — here are key things to know about how today's vote unfolded:

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Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama congratulated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for being confirmed to the Supreme Court, becoming the first Black woman to sit on the highest court when she is sworn in.

"I was so moved to see Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed this afternoon. Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride—a sense of joy—to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will help chart our nation’s course," the former first lady wrote in a post on Instagram.

Obama tweeted, "Congratulations to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her appointment to the Supreme Court. This is a great day for America, and a proud moment in our history."

President Biden touted the “historic moment” he was “honored” to share as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the Senate as the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice Thursday, posting a photo of the two together.

The picture in the post featured the two smiling with Biden holding up his hand to take a selfie.

A White House official told CNN earlier today that Jackson joined the President and other White House senior staff in the Roosevelt Room to watch the confirmation vote.

Former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who served as "sherpa" for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Capitol Hill, pronounced himself “joyous” as he left the Senate chamber following her confirmation vote.

The nominee's "sherpa" plays a key role in shepherding the prospective justice through the Senate process. 

“It was intense,” he noted of the confirmation process “but it was so much easier because of who she is and the way she presented herself, and she just made it oh-so-much easier.”

“I told folks ‘This nomination has been historic and an inspiration, but she – she – as a person is the inspiration to millions of people,” he said.

When asked how Jackson reacted privately to some of the more aggressive lines of questioning from some members of the Judiciary Committee, Jones said “she was prepared with all those questions coming in and she didn’t take it personally.”

"She said, ‘you know this is just politics, pure and simple. And so I’m going to answer my questions and I’m going to go home and go to bed.’ And then she did. She was grace under fire,” he said. “Here’s the thing – it’s very similar to what she does with judicial philosophy. The first thing she does is, ‘this is not about me. It's not personal.’ And so I think her whole method of judging helped to do that. This is really amazing.” 

Jones said it was “awesome” to be back with his former colleagues, but said that senators on both sides of the aisle told him the atmosphere on Capitol Hill is “more difficult, it's a lot tougher, it's not as much fun” in the years since he left.

“I didn't really feel that experience, not from my standpoint, but that's what I'm hearing, so that's too bad. We need to move back,” he said.

CNN legal analyst Joan Biskupic noted that while Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic confirmation won't change the ideological balance of the Supreme Court, she will bring a fresh perspective to the court.

"She also has this very distinctive experience as a former trial judge and a former federal public defender. So, a different attitude around the justice's private table," she added.

The legal analyst said she's reminded in these instances of something Chief Justice John Roberts has said.

"A fresh justice brings an array of fresh thoughts about how the operations behind the scenes, about cases, and that just changes everyone to maybe alter his or her lens a little bit," the analyst said.

Biskupic also referenced comments made by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor when Thurgood Marshall was appointed as the first Black justice in 1967.

"That his special perspective and his ability to tell stories around the private conference table really got them thinking in different ways. He might not have changed votes, but he at least changed the discussion. So, I think all of those things... will essentially affect and bring us a new Supreme Court," she added.

Vice President Kamala Harris was not masked inside the Senate chamber as she presided over the vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court — notable given that the vice president’s communications director, Jamal Simmons, tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday and Harris was identified as having been a close contact of Simmons. 

In revealing Simmons’ positive Covid test and Harris’ close contact with him, the vice president’s office said yesterday that Harris would “follow CDC guidance for those that have been in close contact with a positive individual.”

It separately pointed CNN to specific CDC guidance that Harris would follow, which in part says the person should “wear a well-fitting mask while around other people for 10 days from the date of last close contact.”

Inside the Senate chamber, Harris had been approached numerous times by various senators. At times, she could be seen putting her hand up, as though to request the senator to not approach too close. 

Asked whether Harris breached protocol by remaining unmasked inside the Senate chamber, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she had not done "further analysis" and noted that Harris was sitting up on a dais slightly away from the Senate floor.  

"I haven't seen, I obviously watched most parts of the vote, but I know that she was alone off kind of on the dais for the vast majority of that. And of course she has been wearing a mask otherwise. But beyond that, I haven't I haven't done any further analysis," Psaki told reporters on Thursday. 

Although Harris sometimes could be seen putting her hand up, as though to request a senator to not approach too closely, there were times when individuals did get close to her.  

A White House official said Harris tested negative for Covid-19 on Thursday.

After Vice President Kamala Harris announced the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court, the Senate floor erupted in applause.

Members, mostly on the Democrat side, stood and cheered for the soon-to-be associate justice. Jackson watched the results in the Roosevelt Room with President Biden.

Republican senators appeared to leave the chambers as Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, one of the three GOP members to vote for Jackson, stood and applauded.

Jackson will fill Justice Stephen Breyer's seat and be sworn in at the end of the court's term this summer. She will be the first Black woman to serve on the bench.

Watch the moment below:

Vice President Kamala Harris said it’s “an extraordinary day,” after she left the Senate floor where she presided over the historic confirmation vote of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court. 

Asked how she’s feels after such a historic vote, she said she’s “overjoyed” and “deeply moved.”

The Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman Supreme Court justice on Thursday.

But Jackson won't be on the bench quite yet as she will not be sworn in until after Justice Stephen Breyer retires.

In his letter to President Biden in January, Breyer said his retirement will be effective at the end of the current Supreme Court term, assuming that his successor is confirmed. The term is expected to end sometime late June or early July.