By Joel Mathis, The Week

The thing that makes Ketanji Brown Jackson such an excellent nominee to the Supreme Court is also the thing that makes her ripe for attacks from Republicans: She once served as a public defender — the very first one ever appointed to the court.

She was effective. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reviewed her record and concluded that as a defense attorney, “she won uncommon victories against the government that shortened or erased lengthy prison terms.” Among her clients: Khi Ali Ghul, a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

That might be very unpopular, but let’s be clear: Jackson’s experience as a public defender is a good thing. The Constitution guarantees felony criminal defendants the right to legal counsel, and the system doesn’t work at all if people accused of crimes can’t find a lawyer. Without defense attorneys (and particularly without public defenders), our justice system would be a series of show trials. A criminal charge would be tantamount to a conviction. So it would be good for the court to have a member — just one! — who has day-to-day experience and knowledge of what the law looks like when the government is marshaling its resources against you.

READ MORE