AUGUSTA - Ahead of the U.S. Senate's historic vote today to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, has released the following statement:
"Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a brilliant legal mind, and has spent her career protecting and defending the rights of all people. She will make an exceptional Supreme Court justice," said Talbot Ross. "I am thankful to both Sen. Collins and Sen. King for supporting her nomination, and I hope their Senate colleagues join them in voting to confirm Judge Jackson. From education and housing to domestic violence and health care, the Supreme Court makes decisions that affect all of us, but historically, the courts decisions have disproportionately affected those in marginalized communities. With Judge Jackson's experience working as a public defender, a district judge, on the Court of Appeals and on the Sentencing Commission, she has the insight and background necessary to administer justice equally to all people in the United States."
Talbot Ross attended two days of Jacksons confirmation hearings in March, where she also met with Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King. Prior to the confirmation hearings, Talbot Ross participated in events in support of Jacksons confirmation organized by the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women in partnership with She Will Rise, an organization working to ensure a Black woman justice is appointed to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Talbot Ross is in her third term in the Maine House, representing part of Portland, and serves as assistant House majority leader. A ninth-generation Mainer and longtime public servant, Talbot Ross has dedicated her career to social justice. She serves as the executive director of Maine Black Community Development, Inc., a nonprofit organization she founded. Prior to her time in the Legislature, she led the NAACP in Maine and founded Maine Freedom Trails and Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows. She chaired the Maine State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for several years as well as the African American Collection of Maine housed at the University of Southern Maine.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Talbot Ross], c. 812-1111