SC Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson Faces Off Against Republican Criticism Prior to Senate Confirmation Hearing

Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson has begun her fight against criticism from the Republican party on her way to her Senate confirmation hearing scheduled to start on Mar. 21.

Critics have started to assault the nominee, saying that she is a "radical" who was being promoted by "dark money," and another that demanded her to reveal her LSAT scores. Senators from the GOP who will vote on whether to confirm Jackson to the SC have, at least publicly, are keeping their thoughts to themselves.

Ketanji Brown Jackson's Nomination

Republican lawmakers say that they are keeping an open mind while they prepare for personal meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee in a four-day confirmation hearing later this month. However, several senior party officials have started quietly sketching out the criticism and challenges that Jackson could receive from members of the GOP.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday telegraphed the range of attack that Jackson should anticipate, including questions about her background as a public defender leading her to be soft on crime, her commitment not to oppose Supreme Court expansion, and accusations that she is promoted by "dark money" groups, as per the Washington Post.

The situation comes as Jackson is endorsed by a group of two dozen former law clerks from the 1999 Supreme Court term who want her to don a black robe. The group sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee praising the intellect and character of Biden's nominee with whom they served before.

The group wrote in the letter that while they all held diverse points of view on politics, judicial philosophy, and many other things, they all supported Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court. They argued that the reason was that the nominee was eminently qualified for this specific role.

According to ABC News, the support of the former clerks comes as Jackson is facing questions about her experience and qualification after Biden's announcement of her nomination last month. She made history as the first Black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court.

Securing Key Votes

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is considered a key swing vote, is scheduled to meet with Jackson on Tuesday. The event will mark a crucial sit-down for Biden's nominee as Democrats hope to gain GOP support for her nomination to the Supreme Court.

Last year, Collins and Sens. Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Jackson to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considered to be the second-most important federal court in the U.S. This week, the Maine Republican said that she had not yet made a decision on whether or not she will support Jackson's nomination but said that a sit-down was crucial to her decision.

In a statement, Collins said that Jackson's nomination to the court of appeals and her recent path to the Supreme Court were on completely different levels. Democrats view the Maine senator, who supported former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees, as a crucial supporter for Jackson's confirmation, The Hill reported.