She will be the first black woman to serve at the court in its 233-year history, if confirmed. The nomination comes ahead of Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement in June.

Ms Jackson, who is a a federal appeals judge, said she was “humbled” by the nomination.

President Biden said she was as an “extraordinary” candidate, with an “independent mind, uncompromising integrity and a strong moral compass”.

Ms Jackson currently serves on the US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit, where three of the current justices also served. She has undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University and was also editor of the Harvard Law Review.