US1 min(s) read
Published 10:24 07 Oct 2020 GMT
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has nominated a man who is believed to be the first openly gay justice to California's supreme court, CNN reports.
Judge Martin Jenkins would also be the third Black man to serve if confirmed. He would be taking over from Associate Justice Ming W. Chin, who has recently retired.
"Justice Jenkins is widely respected among lawyers and jurists, active in his Oakland community and his faith, and is a decent man to his core," Newsom said in a news release, according to the publication.
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"As a critical member of my senior leadership team, I've seen firsthand that Justice Jenkins possesses brilliance and humility in equal measure. The people of California could not ask for a better jurist or kinder person to take on this important responsibility," Newsom continued.
Jenkins, who played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, was appointed a judge on the Oakland Municipal Court in 1989 and served in that role until 1992.
From 1992 to 1997, he served as a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court.
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Then in 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Jenkins to the US District Court for the Northern District of California. He remained in the role until 2008.
From that point until last year, Jenkins served as an Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District.
In 2019, he joined the Newsom administration.
"I want to say today to those young people who may be watching and those who may hear about what has transpired here, I am not here in spite of the struggle, I'm here because of the struggle," Jenkins said in a press conference with Newsom, CNN reports.
"I want these young people to know that living a life of authenticity is the greatest gift you can give yourself, and if you do that, you too will find yourself in a position where people see you, they really see you for who you are. And I thank you, Gov. Newsom, for giving me this opportunity and for seeing me."
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Jenkins' nomination has since been praised by a number of individuals, including Equality California Executive Director Rick Chavez Zbur.
"Governor Newsom's appointment of California's first openly gay supreme court justice is a monumental step forward for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire state," Zbur said in a statement, per CNN.
"Not only is Justice Jenkins exceptionally qualified and an outstanding choice for California's highest court, but he embodies the values of our great state. Governor Newsom is setting a national example as he works to ensure California's government reflects the diversity of the people they serve."
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Jenkins said he was "truly humbled and honored to be asked by the Governor to continue serving the people of California on the Supreme Court."
He continued: "If confirmed, I will serve with the highest ethical standards that have guided me throughout my career, informed by the law and what I understand to be fair and just."
