Washington, DC (April 7, 2022) – NACDL celebrates the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson based on her unassailable qualifications. NACDL, however, notes that we have a long way to go to achieve meaningful diversity in the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary and therefore calls on President Biden to continue to nominate highly qualified members of the defense bar to the bench. Diverse perspectives on the bench, including the voices of former defenders, are fundamental to ensuring that our courts understand the workings of the criminal legal system and its impact on the lives of individuals and on our communities. The Constitution demands no less than this – judges who will protect individual rights based on real lived experience in the well of the courtroom.
