The appointment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the supreme court represented “a moment of real change in American history”, US president Joe Biden said.
Speaking at a ceremony at the White House to mark her appointment, he said she would had to face verbal abuse and “the most vile, baseless accusations” during her confirmation hearing to become a member of the court but she had shown character and integrity.
Judge Jackson said she would rule on the supreme court independently and “without fear or favour”.
She was confirmed by the US Senate on Thursday to the lifetime role on the supreme court in a 53-47 vote.
Three Republican senators supported the appointment as well as all Democratic senators.
However, during the nomination process, Judge Jackson faced strong criticism from a number of Republican senators who accused her of being too lenient as a trial judge in sentencing child pornography offenders and of being soft on crime.
Painful process
Mr Biden said on Friday that when he nominated her for the role several weeks ago, he knew she would be put through a painful and difficult confirmation process in the US Senate.
“What Judge Jackson was put through was well beyond that – it was verbal abuse, the anger, the constant interruptions, the most vile, baseless assertions and accusations. In the face of it all, Judge Jackson showed the incredible character and integrity she possesses – poise.”
He said when he had made the commitment to nominate a black woman to the supreme court while campaigning for the White House, “I could see this day, I could see it as a day of hope, a day of promise, a day of progress”.
Judge Jackson, who is 51 and a federal appellate judge, will replace the retiring 83-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer, who is on the liberal bloc of the supreme court.
The nine-member supreme court currently has a solid 6-3 conservative majority.
Judge Jackson was given a standing ovation by the audience at the ceremony on the White House lawn on Friday and said: “It is the greatest honour of my life.”
