Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would oppose the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
From The Blaze:
While the Kentucky Republican said that he had an “open mind” going into the process, he said that after examining her “record and watching her performance this week,” he “cannot and will not” back confirming her to a lifetime appointment to the high court.
Jackson was nominated by Biden to fill the impending vacancy of Justice Stephen Breyer, who is set to step down later this year. Breyer is widely considered one of the most dependable liberal justices on the bench, making his replacement a critical choice for Democrats after former President Donald Trump was able to confirm three justices during his four years in office.
But Republicans have begun expressing reservations about Jackson’s qualifications, concerns that only intensified after Jackson was seemingly unwilling to define what the term “woman” meant during confirmation hearings.
“I think the read out from the members who have been in the hearing room for those of us who haven’t been in the hearing room is that she’s not changing minds,” GOP Sen. John Thune said of growing Republican opposition to Jackson.
But Democrats say that Republicans have a double standard when it comes to judicial nominations, arguing Jackson’s qualifications should be more than enough to garner GOP support for her confirmation.
“Why is it a different standard? Because she’s nominated by a Democrat?” Democratic Sen. Jon Tester asked. “Or because she’s a woman? Or because of the color of her skin? Look at what she’s accomplished. This woman is incredibly qualified, and she’s proven that in these hearings. I think it just speaks to the fact that politics outweighs common sense.”
Jackson’s nomination is secure if Democrats and those that caucus with the party remain unified in the evenly split Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie breaking vote.
But Democrats were also hoping to avoid bringing the Harris into the process, targeting centrist GOP Senators such as Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah as potential Republican supporters of her confirmation.
Romney has not commented on whether or not he plans to cast a confirmation vote for Jackson, though Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin has expressed optimism that his party can gain enough GOP support to push the nomination through.
“I still think there’s a chance … I’ve talked to a few of them,” Durbin said.
