CHAIRMAN AT DURBAN, RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS HEARING AND CONSIDERING MY NOMINATION AS ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT. I AM HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE HERE. I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROUS INTRODUCTIONS THAT MY FORMER COLLEAGUE JUDGE TOM GRIFFITH AND MY CLOSE FRIEND PROFESSOR LISA FAIRFAX HAVE SO GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED. I AM ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CONFIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PLACED IN ME AND FOR THE KINDNESS THAT HE AND THE FIRST LADY AND THE VICE PRESIDENT AND SECOND GENTLEMAN HAVE EXTENDED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. TODAY WILL BE THE FOURTH TYPE I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF APPEARING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CONFIRMATION. OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING EACH MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE SEPARATELY. I HAVE MET WITH 45 SENATORS IN TOTAL. YOUR CAREFUL ATTENTION TO MY NOMINATION DEDICATES YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT THE SENATE PLACE IN THIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS. WHILE I AM ON THE SUBJECT OF ATTITUDE, I MUST PAUSE TO REAFFIRM MY THANKS TO GOD, FOR IT IS A FAITH THAT SUSTAINS ME AT THIS MOMENT. EVEN PRIOR TO TODAY, I CAN SAY THAT MY LIFE HAS BEEN BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE. THE FIRST EVER MY BLESSINGS IS THE FACT THAT I WAS BORN IN THIS GREAT NATION IS A LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS AGO IN SEPTEMBER 1970. CONGRESS HAD ENACTED TWO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT'S IN THE DECADE BEFORE. LIKE SO MANY WHO HAD EXPERIENCED LAWFUL RACIAL SEGREGATION FIRSTHAND, MY PARENTS LEFT THEIR HOMETOWN OF MIAMI AND MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO EXPERIENCE NEW FREEDOMS. WHEN I WAS BORN HERE, MY PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. TO EXPRESS BOTH PRIDE IN THEIR HERITAGE AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, THEY GAVE ME AN AFRICAN NAME -- KETANJI ANIKA, WHICH THEY WERE TOLD MEANS A LOVELY ONE. MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME THAT, UNLIKE THE BARRIERS THEY HAD HAD TO FACE, MY PATH WAS CLEAR, SOLIDIFIED WORK HARD AND BELIEVED IN MYSELF, I COULD DO OR BE ANYTHING I WANTED TO BE. LIKE SO MANY FAMILIES, THEY WORKED LONG HOURS AND SACRIFICED TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL. MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 54 YEARS AND ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. I CANNOT POSSIBLY THINK THEM ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME. MY FATHER THERE IS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY INTEREST IN THE LAW. WHEN I WAS FOUR, WE MOVED BACK TO MIAMI SO HE COULD BE A FULL-TIME LAW STUDENT AND WE LIVED ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. MY MOTHER PULLED DOUBLE DUTY COME OUT WORKING AS THE SOLE BREADWINNER WHILE ALSO GUIDING AND INSPIRING FOUR-YEAR-OLD ME. MY EARLIEST MEMORIES ARE OF WATCHING MY FATHER'S STUDY. HE HAD HIS BOOKS ON THE KITCHEN TABLE WHILE I SAT ACROSS FROM HIM WITH MY COLORING BOOKS. MY PARENTS ALSO INSTILLED IN ME AND MY RATHER THE IMPORTANCE -- MY BROTHER THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AFTER GRADUATING FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY, MY BROTHER STARTED OUT AS A POLICE OFFICER. AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY AND EVENTUALLY BECAME AN INFANTRY OFFICER, SERVING TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN THE POLICE HE IS HERE TODAY, PROVIDING HIS LOVE AND SUPPORT. SPEAKING OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY HUSBAND, DR. PATRICK JACKSON. HAVE NOT GOT THAT WITHOUT HIM FROM THAT BY MY SIDE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE MET IN COLLEGE. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN THE BEST HUSBAND, FATHER, AND FRIEND I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. PATRICK, I LOVE YOU. WILLIAM, PATRICK'S IDENTICAL TWIN BROTHER, IS HERE, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE. ALSO HERE ARE PATRICK'S OLDER BROTHER AND HIS WIFE. LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, MY IN-LAWS, THE MATRIARCH AND PATRIARCH OF THE JACKSON FAMILY HAVE TRAVELED HERE FROM BOSTON. I AM SEEKING A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THIS INTRODUCTION FOR MY DAUGHTERS. GIRLS, I KNOW IT HAS BEEN EASY. AS I HAVE TRIED TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES OF JUGGLING MY CAREER AND OTHER, I FULLY IN THAT THEY DID NOT ALWAYS GET THE BALANCE 