The 'qualities' of the US Supreme Court candidates 2:30
(CNN) --
US President Joe Biden has selected Ketanji Brown Jackson as his Supreme Court nominee, according to a source notified of the decision.
This set in motion a historic confirmation process for the first black woman to sit on the highest court in the country.
Jackson, 51, is currently a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington and had been considered the leading candidate for the vacancy since Judge Stephen Breyer announced her retirement.
She received and accepted Biden's offer in a call Thursday night, a source familiar with the decision told CNN.
United States Supreme Court