Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman justice on SCOTUS

Plus, civilians flee eastern Ukraine amid the threat of Russian attacks.

Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court; civilians are fleeing eastern Ukraine under the threat of Russian attacks.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS Ketanji Brown Jackson will become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the 116th Supreme Court justice on Thursday, and will become the first Black woman justice. [NBC / Sahil Kapur] In a 53 to 47 vote, three Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and Susan Collins — joined Senate Democrats in confirming President Joe Biden's nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. [Al Jazeera] Democrats and progressives have backed Jackson, citing her experience and the diversity she'll bring to the Court. "This is a great moment for Judge Jackson, but it is an even greater moment for America as we rise to a more perfect union," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. [NPR / Eric McDaniel] Judge Jackson's supporters point not only to the historic nature of her nomination but also to her qualifications. Jackson spent years as a federal judge and will become the first justice to have served as a public defender. [Associated Press / Mary Clare Jalonick and Mark Sherman] During her confirmation hearings last month, Republicans misleadingly accused Jackson of being a liberal justice who is soft on crime. The three GOP senators who voted for Jackson applauded her integrity and criticized their party's treatment of Jackson. [Washington Post / Mike DeBonis, Robert Barnes, and Seung Min Kim] Jackson will be sworn in this summer when Justice Stephen Breyer retires. For the first time in its history, white men will not be the majority on the US Supreme Court. [ABC News / Libby Cathey] Ukrainians are fleeing eastern Ukraine Thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing eastern Ukraine amid reports that Russia is planning to escalate attacks on civilian areas. [New York Times / Megan Specia, Cora Engelbrecht, and Eric Schmitt] As Russians withdrew troops from the outskirts of Kyiv last week, the discovery of the bodies of Ukrainian civilians in the town Bucha sparked war crime allegations. Fear of similar attacks on civilians is contributing to eastern Ukrainians' flight. [Associated Press / Adam Schreck and Andrea Rosa] Thursday, German magazine Der Spiegel reported that German intelligence intercepted Russian radio transmissions that matched the location where Ukrainian civilians were killed. Two German ministers plan to use the intelligence as evidence of Russian war crimes. [Deutsche Welle] Last week, Russia seized control of the eastern city of Izyum, having destroyed an estimated 80 percent of its buildings and threatened civilians. Ukrainian officials say Russia plans to launch attacks from Izyum on Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas region. [Washington Post / Dalton Bennett] Meanwhile, the United Nations on Thursday voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council in response to atrocities against civilians in Ukraine. Belarus, China, and Syria were among the countries opposed to the measure, while India abstained.  [CNBC / Amanda Macias] MISCELLANEOUS Global methane emissions — the second biggest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide — jumped to a record high in 2021. [Washington Post / Steven Mufson] On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive for Covid-19. Pelosi, 82, is fully vaccinated. [NPR / Barbara Sprunt] Russian oligarchs are hiding their yachts in the Maldives to escape EU and US sanctions. [Business Insider / Urooba Jamal] Six House Republicans — Reps. Andy Biggs, Warren Davidson, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, and Scott Perry — voted against investigating Russia for war crimes. [The Hill /Mychael Schnell] VERBATIM "This Black woman is just killing it." [Zarinah Mustafa, Harvard Law School student, on what Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation means / NYT] LISTEN TO THIS Making sense: The sixth sense Why stop at five senses? Just how much of the world can we perceive? And how much is out there that's still out of reach, hiding in the dark? This is the sixth and final episode of our six-part series, Making Sense.   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox The awful American consumer America needs more doctors and nurses to survive the next pandemic The Noom paradox A survey on global mental well-being shows that the kids are not all right Jerrod Carmichael's new comedy special is everything Louis C.K.'s Sincerely is not This email was sent to vox@quicklydone.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.