Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson began her first day of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings where the Black woman touted her love for the United States and committed to being Independent if she were to be included in the country's highest court.
United States President Joe Biden's historic SC nominee was introduced by two of her colleagues and made a speech herself. Jackson also listened to more than four hours of speeches from senators. Her opening statement focused on her humble background and she expressed her gratitude to the people who have supported her legal career.
Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
Jackson and her supporters have emphasized the "independent" approach that she could bring to the bench. On top of that, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats argued that the Black woman's confirmation will allow the Supreme Court to be more reflective of the country it serves.
Republicans, who have looked at parts of the Supreme Court nominee's record they wanted to criticize, launched a series of broadsides against Democrats for how they handled the confirmation of GOP nominees in the past, as per CNN.
During her opening statements, Jackson said that her name "Ketanji Onyika" meant "lovely one," telling the committee of her parents' pride in their heritage. The nominee revealed that her interest in law was developed from watching her father study law. She also praised the "excellent mentors" she had during her high school days.
In her remarks, she said that Justice Stephen Breyer, who she is set to replace if she were to be confirmed, gave her the greatest job a young lawyer could ask for. She added that Breyer exemplified what it meant to be a Supreme Court justice of the highest level of skill, integrity, civility, and grace.
According to Yahoo News, joined by her parents, her husband, and her daughters, Jackson said that it was a struggle juggling her career and motherhood. She admitted to not always making the right choices but noted that she always worked hard with determination and love.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Jackson said that if she was confirmed, she will work productively to support and defend the Constitution and American democracy. She noted that she has been a judge for nearly a decade and said she takes her responsibility and duty to be independent very seriously. The nominee's opening remarks lasted for about 13 minutes.
At the beginning of the day, several Democrats in the room were celebrating her nomination to the Supreme Court. Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who had no formal role in the proceedings, held up her phone and recorded New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker's remarks where he said that Jackson's nomination was "not a normal day for America."
Among GOP members, there were signs of gentility, an example being when Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley, who is the committee's senior Republican, pulled out a chair for Jackson before the beginning of the hearing. However, the tone quickly shifted as GOP members stressed that they would not be personally attacking the nominee and focused on her record, the New York Times reported.
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