Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s remarks on working motherhood go viral

During her confirmation hearings last month, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a powerful opening statement—but it’s one particular sentiment from that statement that went viral on Twitter. She has since been confirmed, and is officially the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, was the first Black woman to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, and endured long hours of questioning during her four-day confirmation hearing process before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Prior to her confirmation, she sat on the second most powerful court in the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Jackson is also a wife to Patrick, a D.C.-based surgeon, and proud mama to daughters Leila and Talia. She made it a point to acknowledge her daughters during her opening statement for her hearings:

“Girls, I know it has not been easy as I have tried to navigate the challenges of juggling my career and motherhood,” she said. “And I fully admit that I did not always get the balance right. But I hope that you have seen that with hard work, determination, and love, it can be done. I am so looking forward to seeing what each of you chooses to do with your amazing lives in this incredible country.”

NYU law professor Melissa Murray tweeted about that specific moment in her speech, and many fellow working moms echoed their support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s statement.

This is a very valid (and welcome) reminder that no matter what career we have, a working mom is a working mom—and we all feel the same way about it. We all have the same worries and fears. Wanting to do well in your career and find fulfillment in your work while also being the best mother you can be for your children is the never-ending balance struggle.

Some of us have the proverbial “village,” some of us do not. But we’re all mamas just working and trying our best at the end of the day.

Others have pointed out that fathers on the Supreme Court have never addressed their shortcomings

Jackson concluded her statements by reminding the committee of her love for her country, saying: “the first of my many blessings is the fact that I was born in this great nation, a little over 50 years ago.”

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