Ketanji Brown Jackson, United States President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee, has begun to meet with senators on her way to face a Senate confirmation hearing on Mar. 21.
Democrats are conducting a concerted effort to confirm Jackson before the Senate leaves for the Easter recess. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court nominee met one-on-one with top Senate officials. The Judiciary Committee also laid out a timeline for the nomination and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) prepared for any potential political attacks.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
While some House Democrats have begun preparing for the worst, Jackson's confirmation is seeing a good start, with many Senate Republicans so far withholding their attacks against the nominee. Despite the sole purpose of the Senate being a Supreme Court confirmation, it did not stop House members from weighing in their thoughts.
The CBC also set up a "war room" where they planned to defend the nominee even before President Biden selected her. Rep. Steven Horsford said that Democrats were ready to support her fair hearing and noted they were expecting a quick confirmation process from the Senate, as per Politico.
Jackson is the first Black woman to be nominated to the high court and is scheduled to deliver her remarks and answer questions at the confirmation hearing. During the process, senators will determine whether or not she is fit to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who is set to retire at the end of the court's current term.
According to CNN, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin was among those who sat with Jackson. He sent a letter to the committee where he said that they will undertake a fair and timely process to consider Judge Jackson's nomination. The first day of the hearing is scheduled for statements from each member of the committee as well as those who will formally introduce Jackson, and Jackson herself.
The second and third days will give senators the opportunity to question Jackson while the committee meets behind closed doors on Mar. 23 to review the nominee's FBI background information.
Senate Confirmation Hearing
On the final day of the confirmation hearing, outside witnesses will testify, including the American Bar Association which customarily rates federal judicial nominees with a possible finding of "Not Qualified," "Qualified," or "Well Qualified." On top of the questions that Jackson will have to answer at the hearing, she will also be presented with written "questions for the record."
Republican lawmakers have openly expressed their intentions of challenging Jackson based on her record and judicial philosophy instead of attacking her personally. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz released a statement on Feb. 25 slamming Democrats for how they have treated Republican-appointed nominees in the past, arguing that Jackson deserved better treatment.
In his statement, Cruz said that Democrats had undermined the American people's confidence in previous judicial confirmation processes with vicious personal smears and unfounded accusations. The official said that the left had committed shameless attacks that mocked the constitutional role of the Senate. Similarly, former committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley said on Monday that the GOP will be polite towards Jackson, Fox News reported.
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