Celebrating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

On April 7, 2022, we witnessed a pivotal moment in the history of the American judicial system. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the first Black woman to sit on our nation’s highest court. An exceptionally qualified jurist and former law clerk to Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Jackson will also be the first former public defender to serve on the esteemed bench in its 233-year history.

The University at Buffalo School of Law proudly celebrates this milestone and recognizes its significance to our community and our profession, particularly to those communities that have been historically underrepresented. This is an extraordinary achievement, affirming that diversity, in its many forms, is essential to the values of fairness and equality that lie at the heart of our legal system.

As Jackson said at her confirmation hearing, “I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — 'Equal Justice Under Law' — are a reality and not just an ideal.”

We remain committed to achieving that ideal, fueled by the hope of this historic moment.

Aviva Abramovsky
Dean and Professor of Law