Ketanji Brown Jackson steps around GOP criticism

Topics aired on Tuesday include their decisions on child pornography cases, the abduction law precedent in Roe v. Wade, her feelings about the academic concept known as critical race theory and whether her legal philosophy reflects a willingness to remake the law in ways. about the Constitution.

Apart from unexpected revelations, little stands in the way of Judge Jackson’s confirmation. The composition of the Senate has remained unchanged since last year, when three Republicans joined with all 50 Democrats in independence to stand trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit. “They’re grabbing straw,” Sen said. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) of Republican Challenges for Candidate.

The judge contradicted the GOP allegations that she was too lenient for accused criminals, saying she acted primarily as a public defender to represent Guantanamo Bay defenders and was later assigned by her law firm to write a brief for her rights. they defend.

She cautiously turned to Sen. John Cornyn’s (R., Texas) attempt to determine whether she was trying to extend existing federal rights by deciding that some rights were implied in the Constitution. She said that under Supreme Court precedents, “the kinds of things that qualify are implicit in the concept of ordered freedom or are deeply rooted in the history and tradition of our country.”

“I wish we had a more sincere discussion about the source of power that unelected lifelong judges have to govern in essence America,” Mr Cornyn said.

One of President Biden’s stated criteria for each nominee was that she had an expansive view of individual rights, listed above specifically in the Constitution, an attitude that had implications for issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. Answer to the Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah), told the judge that she did not discuss with Mr. Biden the Ninth Amendment, which says that people can retain rights over those specifically listed.

The Democrats’ first order on Tuesday was to give Judge Jackson a platform for accusations first filed by the Senate. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), who on Monday criticized for setting up what he said was a series of mild criminal charges against child pornography perpetrators – cited seven such cases in which he said she delivered sentences under what the US guidelines have proposed.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Judge Jackson said, in response to initial questions about the matter by Senate Judiciary Committee President Dick Durbin (D., Ill.).

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“You said it was a sick and gruesome crime,” he said, emphasizing that prosecutors have on several occasions asked for longer sentences than she set up. “Do you believe the voice of the children is heard?” he asked.

“Congress has said a judge does not play a number game,” Judge Jackson responded, saying he or she must consider factors, including recommendations from the Federal Court of Corrections.

Mr. He noted that the judge sits on the board of directors of Georgetown Day School, a private school that includes its recommended reading list “Race Cars,” described as a book on white privilege, and Ibram X. Kendi’s “Antiracist Baby.”

The judge said she was not aware of the books being assigned or recommended by the school. “I do not believe that every child should get the feeling that if they are racist or if they are not appreciated, or if they are less than; that they are victims, they are oppressors,” Judge Jackson said. “I do not believe in any of that.”

The school is closed for the spring break and representatives have not responded to emails.

Judge Jackson’s hearings are not expected to be as controversial as the last, mainly because their presence on the Supreme Court would not change its ideological composition.

Op Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court judge who established a constitutional right to an abortion, told Judge Jackson that the decision was a statutory law and that courts, when reviewing past predecessors, should consider how those judgments were applied. The Supreme Court is currently considering whether to narrow or abolish constitutional protection for abortion rights, a decision that is expected by the end of June.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., SC), after claiming that Democrats had previously smeared Justice Amy Coney Barrett – who had been a high-court nominee of former Republican President Donald Trump – over her Catholic religion, said he would so angry that the Lord. Biden was sued over Judge Michelle Childs of South Carolina for the post that he had problems with the current nomination.

“The fact that so many of these left-wing radical groups that are destroying the law as we know it have declared war on Michelle Childs and supported you is problematic for me,” he said, addressing the judge. Jackson.

Asked during a lunch break whether Mr Graham, who voted for Judge Jackson’s nomination to the DC Circuit last year, could still be persuaded to vote for her again, Mr Durbin said he was pleased with his GOP. Colleague must talk.

Judge Jackson, the first black woman to be elected to the Supreme Court, referred to her personal story without dwelling on it. She said, as she had the day before, that her upbringing experience was different from that of her parents, who attended racistly segregated schools. Noding on the value of racist diversity justice in response to a question from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., California), said, “It supports public trust and justice when you have different people because we have such a diversity. Society.”

Later, Mr. Durbin objected to Mr. Cornyn’s that Judge Jackson referred to “war criminals” as then President George W. Bush and then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Mr Durbin said that in the course of representing Guantanamo Bay detainees, the judge had made several petitions in which an individual claimed that the government had sanctioned torture against that person, which constitutes a war crime.

“To be clear, there was no time when you called President Bush or Secretary Rumsfeld a war criminal,” Mr Durbin said.

“Thank you, that was right,” Judge Jackson replied.

Other Democrats, including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., RI) and Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) Used much of their allotted 30 minutes of questions to praise the candidate. And some Republicans have struck a conciliatory tone. The committee’s top Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), told the nominee that when he came home Monday night, “the first thing I heard was my wife’s opinion that you did very well in your opening statement. She had nothing to do with it. to say my statement.

From the side, the Republican-led Republican politician sent out an e-mail, noting that Judge Jackson refused to answer Mr. Grassley’s question as to whether she would oppose increasing the number of judges on the Supreme Court, a move he have favored some progressives.

Judge Jackson, 51, on Monday issued more than four hours of opening remarks by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The judge has already been upheld three times by the Senate, including last year on a position on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit. In her own brief opening remarks late Monday, she said she would “work productively to support and defend the Constitution and this great experiment of American democracy,” adding that she “stood on the shoulders of so many.” , who came before me, “including Judge Constance Baker Motley, who appointed the first black woman to the Bundesbank.

She also praised Judge Stephen Breyer, for whom she wrote, filling his seat after her expected confirmation.

Corrections & Amplifications
Ketanji Brown Jackson has been nominated by President Biden for the Supreme Court. An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to her as Ketanji Jackson Brown in a headline. (Corrected March 22).

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