WASHINGTON D.C. (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday began its Supreme Court confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s pick Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
She’s the first black woman nominated for the nation’s highest court.
The 51-year-old will give an opening statement later today and answer questions from the committee’s members Tuesday and Wednesday.
The panel includes 11 Democratic and 11 Republican senators. Judge Jackson has served as a federal court for the past nine years.
During opening statements, Democratic Senator and Committee Chairman Dick Durbin talked about comments Jackson made during her D.C. District Court hearings about how she speaks with those before her court.
“You added and I quote ‘I speak to them directly and not just to their lawyers. I use their names. I explain every stage of the proceeding because I want them to know what’s going on.’ As a result of that approach, you’ve made the law more approachable to litigants and American people” he said.
Republican Ranking Member Senator Chuck Grassley said these hearings will pour through her judicial record.
“We will conduct a thorough exhaustive examination of Judge Jackson’s record and view,” he said.
Last year, the Harvard graduate won a Senate confirmation by a 53-44 vote, with three Republicans giving her a supporting vote.
It’s not clear if she’ll get Republican support for the Supreme Court seat.
Democrats hold a slim Senate majority and hope to clear her confirmation before Easter.
On Friday, the American Bar Association rated Judge Jackson as “well qualified,” that’s its highest rating, to serve on the Supreme Court.
Click the link on the Twitter feed to view the hearings live.
Copyright 2021. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.