The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct its hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson this week, starting today at 11 a.m. and expected to last four days.
Tennessee’s senior Sen. Marsha Blackburn has met with the nominee and promised to thoroughly vet her record. In a press statement, Blackburn added: “A Supreme Court nominee must be committed to upholding the rule of law and Constitution as written. We must not blindly confirm a justice to serve as a rubber stamp for a radical progressive agenda.”
The tentative schedule calls for Q&A with Judge Jackson on Tuesday; a closed hearing on Wednesday to ask Judge Jackson about any material contained in her background investigation; on Thursday the senators will interview witnesses; Judge Jackson will not be present. At some point after the hearing, the committee will vote on sending the nomination to the full Senate.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She currently serves on the federal appeals court and would replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
Twenty-two of 100 senators serve on the Judiciary Committee, evenly divided with 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats. The chair is Democrat Dick Durbin. Republicans controlled the Senate in October 2020 when Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed. Sen. Lindsay Graham chaired the Judiciary Committee. Barrett’s nomination was sent to the full Senate on a 12-0 vote with all 12 Republicans voting yes and the Democrats boycotting the vote. Barrett was confirmed by the full Senate just four days later with 52 of 53 Republicans voting in favor. Sen. Susan Collins and all 47 Democrats voted against. Barrett was sworn in the next day.
Don’t expect the Senate to move so quickly on the Jackson nomination. Jackson did get three Republican votes a year ago when she was confirmed to the federal appeals court. Those came from Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.
Now the Senate is split 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris voting to break a tie. Buckle your seat belts. This will be interesting.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.