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With her husband Michael, a surgeon and 2 daughters by her side Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson licensed to 4 hours of opening statements from senators in the confirmation hearing for the supreme court. Jackson made history as she faced the senate for the third time to be confirmed, this time the frost Black woman to even be considered for the first time in history to become a Supreme Court Justice of the United States.
Senator Dick Durbin lauded Judge Jackson's record setting the stage for a unified Democratic vote in the 50-50 split Senate.
She said she would defend this "great experiment of American democracy" is selected, emphasizing she is an independent thinker.
Following is an excerpt from Judge Jackson's opening remarks:
“Members of this committee: If I am confirmed, I commit to you that I will work productively to support and defend the Constitution and the grand experiment of American democracy that has endured over these past 246 years,” Jackson said in her opening statement.
“I know that my role as a judge is a limited one – that the Constitution empowers me only to decide cases and controversies that are properly presented. And I know that my judicial role is further constrained by careful adherence to precedent,” Jackson said.
“I have been a judge for nearly a decade now, and I take that responsibility and my duty to be independent very seriously. I decide cases from a neutral posture. I evaluate the facts, and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me, without fear or favor, consistent with my judicial oath,” she added.
Critics have claimed Jackson is an affirmative action pick, although she has more experience on the bench that any sitting SCOTUS. Pres. Joe Biden selected an African American woman to serve on the bench in the high court to fulfill a campaign promise but has emphasized she was chosen die to her impressive resume.
Republicans have attempted to negate her qualifications with question about her stance on sentencing porn abusers, CRT and her general philosophy about decisioning cases.
Day two of the confirmation process is expected to last 12 hours