Jackson sworn in, becomes first Black woman on US Supreme Court Missile strike kills 10
WASHINGTON — Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in to the US Supreme Court on Thursday, shattering a glass ceiling as the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court.
The 51-year-old is the court’s 116th justice, and she took the place of the justice she once worked for.
Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement was effective at noon.
Moments later, joined by her family, Ms Jackson recited the two oaths required of Supreme Court justices, one administered by Breyer and the other by Chief Justice John Roberts.
“With a full heart, I accept the solemn responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and administering justice without fear or favour, so help me God,” Ms Jackson said in a statement issued by the court.
“I am truly grateful to be part of the promise of our great nation. I extend my sincerest thanks to all of my new colleagues for their warm and gracious welcome.
Ms Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, is joining three other women — Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and
Amy Coney Barrett. It’s the first time four women will serve together on the ninemember court.
US President Joe Biden nominated Jackson in February, a month after Breyer, 83, announced he would retire at the end of the court’s term, assuming his successor had been confirmed. Breyer’s earlier-than-usual announcement and the condition he attached was a recognition of the Democrats’ tenuous hold on the senate in an era of hyper-partisanship, especially surrounding federal judgeships.
The senate confirmed Ms Jackson’s nomination in early April, by a 53-47 mostly party-line vote that included support from three Republicans.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman confirmed for the US Supreme Court.
KYIV -A Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s southern port of Odesa early on Friday killed at least 10 people, a regional official said, a day after Ukraine drove Russian forces from the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island.
Earlier reports said six people had died in the nighttime strike on a residential building, including three children.
“The number of dead as a result of a strike on a multistory apartment building has now risen to 10,” Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa regional administration said on his Telegram channel.
Reuters could not independently confirm details of the incident.
It came after Russia on Thursday said it had decided to withdraw from Snake Island as a “gesture of goodwill” to show Moscow was not obstructing UN attempts to open a humanitarian corridor allowing grains to be shipped from Ukraine.
Ukraine said it had driven
Russian forces off the outcrop after an artillery and missile assault, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailing the strategic win.””It does not yet guarantee security. It does not yet ensure that the enemy will not come back,” he said in his nightly video address.
“But this significantly limits the actions of the occupiers. Step by step, we will push them back from our sea, our land and our sky.”
In contrast, however, Ukrainian forces were desperately hanging on against Russia’s superior firepower in the city of Lysychansk.
Russian artillery shelled from different directions while the Russian army approached from several sides, regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said on Ukrainian television.
“The superiority in fire power of the occupiers is still very much in evidence,” Mr Zelenskiy said.
“They have simply brought in all their reserves to hit us.”