Maine Republican Senator, Susan Collins, has decided to vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Last week, Judge Jackson endured four days of questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee at a confirmation hearing as President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court. The historic confirmation hearings were filled with Republicans attacking her record and Democrats defending her character. Most notably, Jackson was questioned and criticized for her sentencing of child pornography offenders while serving in Washington as a judge for the federal district court.
Jackson would be the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court if successfully voted in.
Sen. Collins is the first and only Senate Republican (so far) to assert her vote for Jackson’s ascendance as a member of the Supreme Court.
“After reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s extensive record, watching much of her hearing testimony, and meeting her twice in person, I have concluded that she possesses the experience, qualifications, and integrity to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court,” Collin’s stated. “ I will, therefore, vote to confirm her to this position."
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski are said to most likely be the only two remaining Republican swing votes who are still considering how they will vote.
“Murkowski tells us (CNN) that she plans to have a follow up conversation with Jack and is “still in the evaluation phase” of the nomination,” CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent, Manu Raju, tweeted.
There is a possibility that Collins may be the only Republican voting to confirm Jackson into the Supreme Court, with the (optimistic) maximum of three to four Republicans supporting her ascension to the nation’s highest court. While it is assumed all 50 Democrats will back her, 95% of Democrats and 29% of Republicans reportedly approve of Jackson’s nomination.
The lack of Republican support is different to how the public and the International Association of Chiefs of Police feel about Jackson’s qualifications for the Supreme Court.
A national survey conducted by Marquette Law School Poll revealed two-thirds of the public supported the confirmation of Jackson to the Supreme Court.
66% of adults said they would back Jackson's nomination to the Supreme court if they were Senators, where as 34% would object to her nomination. Nearly all Democrats unanimously approved of the nomination, while two-thirds of Independents and 29% of Republicans favored assigning her to the highest court.
"[Jackson] is seen as “very qualified” by 46% of the public and as “somewhat qualified” by 42%, while 12% see her as “not qualified," according to the national poll.
A little over two weeks ago, a major police chiefs organization, known as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee to beseech and endorse the confirmation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court.
“During her time as a judge, she has displayed her dedication to ensuring that our communities are safe and that the interests of justice are served,” IACP president, Chief Dwight E. Henninger, wrote according to POLITICO.
The majority support of the people is quite encouraging. Hopefully, we will have our first Black woman Judge on the Supreme Court before Easter.
Stay safe and godspeed, my friends.