Appoint for Yourselves Judges

For me, Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation to the Supreme Court was an occasion for celebration. It is wonderful and glass-shattering to have an African-American woman on the court. But, more importantly, it is wonderful and noteworthy for another thoughtful, progressive judge to join the Court. Like many Generation X American women, I see a little of myself in Ketanji Brown Jackson. She reminds me of friends who have devoted themselves to careers in ethical, thoughtful, and meaningful ways. Having her on the court is a comfort.

Her confirmation inspired me to look back at our tradition to another great female judge – Deborah from the Bible. We read in Judges: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she sat under the palm-tree of Deborah.”

The sages of our tradition question why Deborah sat underneath a palm tree and answer because it was out in the open. To the male rabbis of the Talmud, Deborah was a modest woman and did not want to break Jewish law by being potentially alone with a man. Her meeting spot gave her transparency that nothing inappropriate was occurring. I see it a little differently. Deborah realized that Judges must be transparent in their deeds and actions to garner the trust of the people. I like to think Deborah met outdoors so that people would see her as accessible and trustworthy. I feel like Ketanji Brown Jackson will have the same sort of transparency.

In Judges, Barak, an Israelite leader at the same time of Deborah, asks her to join him on an expedition. He says, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Deborah joins Barak and the exhibition is a success. I think that kind of partnership – especially among the Justices – is important. Ketanji Brown Jackson seems independent and certainly capable on her own, but also seems open to partnership and collaboration. I wish her well in forming those partnerships and hopefully being able to cross the great conservative/liberal divide on the Court.

After Barak and Deborah’s successful mission, Deborah breaks out in song and praise. Her song is one of just a few in the Biblical text. Ketanji Brown Jackson seems to have similar passion and joy about her role. Although I don’t expect, or hope, that she will sing on the Court, she did play Billy Holiday in a play at Harvard. I suspect that she would appreciate Deborah’s musical enthusiasm. (Ketanji Brown Jackson also acted in Little Shop of Horrors. If I were in a more cynical mood today, I might make a different comparison to the Supreme Court.)

The great compilation Legends of the Jews includes the following line “Not long after Ruth, another ideal woman arose in Israel, the prophetess Deborah.” Not wanting to force comparisons, but “Not long after Ruth, another ideal woman arose on the Supreme Court, the Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.”