During the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, United States Senator Alex Padilla of California told Judge Jackson that he had paid a visit to South San Francisco High School on March 18 to chair a roundtable discussion with students about the confirmation process.
At the roundtable, which was attended by about 30 students in Jason Capitan’s advanced placement (AP) government class as well as members of the school’s associated student body (ASB), Senator Padilla had also emphasized the importance of the right to vote in a democracy.
“If it’s just a few people that are voting for everybody else, that’s not representative. When more people vote, the outcome of an election better represents the will of the people,” he had said.
Senator Padilla then asked if Judge Jackson had a message for young people in South San Francisco and across the country who were watching the hearing.
In response, she said that she would tell them to “persevere”.
“How cool is this?” said SSFUSD Superintendent Dr. Shawnterra Moore. “The confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson marks a significant milestone in the history of our country. Many thanks to Senator Padilla for this real-life civics lesson and for allowing us to help foster a greater understanding of this moment.”
Before being appointed to the U.S. senate, Padilla served as California’s secretary of state and represented California's 20th district as a state senator, an area that includes cities and communities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
“It was an honor to come to South San Francisco High School to talk to the students about the Supreme Court confirmation hearings that will be conducted by the Senate judiciary committee next week,” said Senator Padilla. “For me, it’s a continuation of my work in civic engagement; but given the historic moment that we find ourselves in, I think it’s an important opportunity to share with young people what it really means. Every Supreme Court nomination is important, but this one is historic and why representation matters in the highest court in the land.”
“It was an honor to come to South San Francisco High School to talk to the students about the Supreme Court confirmation hearings that will be conducted by the Senate judiciary committee next week,” said Senator Padilla. “For me, it’s a continuation of my work in civic engagement; but given the historic moment that we find ourselves in, I think it’s an important opportunity to share with young people what it really means. Every Supreme Court nomination is important, but this one is historic and why representation matters in the highest court in the land.”
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first African-American woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
She attended Harvard Law School and also graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.