Tillis to vote against Jackson confirmation

The DCN News Blog Online TV response: Just because she is Black and Female Tom. Say it Tom.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said Wednesday he’ll vote against confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, citing concerns over her politics.

The Republican senator from North Carolina gave Jackson a mixed review, acknowledging her as a qualified nominee but expressing fears of judicial activism in a prepared statement Tillis spokesman Adam Webb released.

“There is no doubt that Judge Jackson is well qualified, and her nomination as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court is historic,” Tillis said. “I was impressed with her knowledge, her composure and her character during more than 20 hours of questioning. However, based on her record, I still hold my initial concerns that she may legislate from the bench instead of consistently following the Constitution as written.”

Tillis said Jackson missed an opportunity to “take a firm public stand against a liberal, dark money court-packing scheme that represents a fundamental threat to the independence of the federal judiciary” when she declined to offer an opinion on adding more justices to the high court.

Currently a judge on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, Jackson would replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

In a nod to the near-inevitability of Jackson joining the court — GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced her support Wednesday morning — Tillis ended his statement on a conciliatory note.

“Although I will not support her confirmation, it is highly likely . . . (Read more)

Biden introduces Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Supreme Court nominee

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Friday that he will nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court.

“For too long our government, our courts, haven’t looked like America,” Biden said in an event at the White House. “I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation.”

If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to serve on the court. At 51, she would also be the second-youngest justice on the current court (Justice Amy Coney Barrett turned 50 in January) and the first justice since Thurgood Marshall with significant experience as a defense lawyer.

As the successor to Breyer, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, Jackson would not change the court’s current 6-to-3 conservative supermajority.

Jackson was nominated to her appeals court position just eight months ago and was confirmed in a 53-44 vote with the support of all Democrats and three Republican senators. Only David Souter, appointed by President George W. Bush, came to the Supreme Court with less time on the federal appeals court — under five months in his case.

Jackson will need a simple majority in the Senate in order to secure confirmation. Although she earned some Republican votes last year, there were early indications Friday that her Supreme Court confirmation process would be more challenging. (Read more)