The US Senate Judiciary Committee today began debating the nomination of the first black woman to run for one of the Supreme Court’s lifetime seats, renowned Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The hearing began with great anticipation, with dozens of photographers taking pictures of Jackson, while several Democratic senators came forward to shake his hand and wish him luck.
Jackson was nominated by US President Joe Biden, who promised during the 2020 election campaign that if he reached the White House he would appoint an African-American woman to the Supreme Court, because none has been part of that court in its 232-year history. .
Jackson was nominated by US President Joe Biden, who made promises during the 2020 election campaign.
“Welcome, Judge Jackson,” said the chairman of the judicial committee, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, at the beginning of the hearing, who recalled that this is a “historic occasion.”
“No Supreme Court justice has ever been an African-American woman. You, Justice Jackson, could be the first. It’s not easy being the first. Often one has to be the best and, in a way, the bravest. Many are not prepared to face that pressure, that ordeal in full view of everyone,” Durbin acknowledged.
“But,” he added, “your presence here, your willingness to bravely go through this process, is an inspiration to thousands of Americans who see themselves in you.”
The first to speak this Monday will be the 22 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Later, Jackson will be officially introduced to the committee by two personalities from the judicial world: former District of Columbia Court of Appeals Judge Thomas B. Griffith and University of Pennsylvania law professor Lisa Fairfax, who also went to college. and lived with Jackson.
Later, the magistrate will read a testimony that she has already prepared before the senators of the judicial committee. Hearings to examine Jackson’s candidacy for the Supreme Court will continue through the rest of the week. Republicans are expected to attack Jackson for having defended four prisoners at the Guantánamo naval base in Cuba and also for helping to reduce jail terms for federal drug crimes, which disproportionately affect African-Americans and Latinos.
Republicans are expected to attack Jackson for having defended four prisoners at Guantánamo (Cuba) and helped reduce sentences for drug crimes, which affect African-Americans and Latinos.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley spread false theories on Twitter about Jackson’s alleged favorable treatment of those accused of pederasty or sexual crimes, something that the White House has called “toxic misinformation” and that has been denied by legal experts. Hawley is one of the Republicans on the judicial committee, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, who is evaluating running for the 2024 presidential election, so they could take advantage of the hearings to get political gain.
The Democrats, who have a majority in the Senate, want Jackson to receive the approval of that chamber before April 8.
Biden published a message on Twitter on Monday in which he stated that Jackson has “one of the most brilliant legal minds” in the country, for which he considered that he deserves to reach the Supreme Court.
If confirmed, Jackson will replace Stephen Breyer, one of three progressive justices on the Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a majority.
EFE (Washington)
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