Biden Promised a Black Woman Supreme Court Nominee. Now What? (with Zinelle October, Franita Tolson, Steve Vladeck, and Danielle Holley-Walker)

On The Issues With Michele Goodwin

In this episode, we kick off our Road to Confirmation series. “On the Issues” will be following the nomination and confirmation process of President Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Road to Confirmation series will take you through each step of the confirmation process as it happens in real time, with commentary and analysis from experts.
We launch the series with this robust discussion about what Justice Breyer’s retirement means for the Supreme Court. And, we dig deep on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman on the Supreme Court. Who are the most likely candidates? What credentials and experience would they bring to the role? What distinguishes the speculated short-list candidates from each other? If confirmed would a Biden nominee have power to influence the Supreme Court?
Joining us to tackle these questions and more are very special guests:

• Zinelle October, executive vice president of the American Constitution Society, the country’s foremost progressive legal organization.
• Franita Tolson, vice dean for faculty and academic affairs, and professor of law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She is a nationally recognized expert in election law, and has testified before congress on voting rights issues, and has written for or appeared as a commentator for outlets including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and more.
• Steve Vladeck. a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law and military justice and the Charles Alan Wright chair in federal courts at the University of Texas School of Law. Vladeck has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. He is also the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast.
• Danielle Holley-Walker, dean and a professor of law of Howard Law School, and a former clerk for Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her research focuses on the governance of public schools, and diversity in the legal profession.

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Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.
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