Ketanji Brown Jackson On Track For Confirmation Despite Deadlocked Senate Judiciary Committee

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who called Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “qualified” with one side of their mouths then voted against moving her confirmation to the Senate floor. It’s the first time the committee has deadlocked on a Supreme Court nomination in three decades.

But despite the 11-11 tie clearly signaling the lack of bipartisanship that has been present in all previous confirmation votes, President Joe Biden’s historic nominee is still on track to be confirmed this week as the first Black woman on the high court thanks to the Democratic majority in the Senate.

The Judiciary Committee’s tie vote was expected, as there is an even party split on the panel and all of the Senate Judiciary Republicans are opposing Jackson’s nomination to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, for whom she once clerked. But it was still a blow to Democrats who had hoped for a bigger show of bipartisan support behind such an obviously qualified candidate.

How shocking to hear the Democrats are supporting an accomplished Black woman but the Republicans aren’t #ConfirmJudgeJackson pic.twitter.com/Zrn1lMEUAh

— Tara Dublin 🇺🇦🌻 (@taradublinrocks) April 4, 2022

In order to move forward through the obstruction, Democrats have already planned a new vote to “discharge” Judge Jackson’s nomination from committee Monday evening and then take a series of procedural steps in the coming days to wind it through the 50-50 Senate. With the support of at least one Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Judge Jackson is on the path toward confirmation by the end of the week. Collins’ support likely saves the Democrats from having to use Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote to confirm President Joe Biden’s pick, and the President called Sen. Collins on Wednesday to thank her. President Biden had called the famously non-committal Senator at least three times before the hearings, part of a major effort to win a bipartisan vote for his historic nominee.

Here's a breakdown of how the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on whether to send Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination to the Senate floor. pic.twitter.com/3OAWxEmbXD

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 4, 2022

“It’s the first time the committee has had the opportunity to advance the nomination of a Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. This is a historic moment for the committee and for America,” said Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat. Sen. Durbin also lauded Judge Jackson’s “impeccable” qualifications, including being the first public defender to serve on the high court, while calling out the Senate Republicans’ shameful treatment of Judge Jackson during their questions last week.

“Judge Jackson is a better person than me.”

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) lauded Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s temperament while criticizing behavior from some GOP members of the Judiciary Committee during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings. pic.twitter.com/K4WqJIsCuu

— CNN (@CNN) April 4, 2022

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) also shamed his Republican colleagues for their treatment of Judge Jackson.

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Sen. Cory Booker on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings: "How qualified do you have to be?" https://t.co/1b2UfsEwS4 pic.twitter.com/r4hu7FKlyU

— ABC News (@ABC) April 4, 2022

But Judge Jackson’s biggest public support on Monday came from the man who believed in her enough to nominate her.

Judge Jackson will bring extraordinary qualifications, deep experience and intellect, and a rigorous judicial record to the Supreme Court.

She deserves to be confirmed as the next Justice.

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 4, 2022