Senate holds final day of Jackson confirmation hearings for Supreme Court

The US Senate Judiciary Committee holds its final day of confirmation hearings Thursday for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination for a Supreme Court seat.

Lawmakers will hear testimony from outside witnesses, including officials from the American Bar Association, law professors and representatives of civil rights, law enforcement and religious rights groups.

After Thursday’s session, committee members will consider Jackson’s nomination before voting on whether to send it to the full Senate for consideration.

On the third day of confirmation hearings Wednesday, Jackson once again defended her record to Republican members, with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, suggesting that Jackson possessed a kind nature that made her too lenient in sentencing. as a federal judge.

Jackson gave a lengthy response, saying that he often sought to explain to defendants the impact of their actions in order to reduce the likelihood that they would commit further crimes when released.

Senator Lindsay Graham, R-SC, was more combative as he continued to question Jackson about her sentencing decisions as a judge, repeatedly cutting her off when she tried to respond. He also mentioned the contentious 2018 confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

A friendlier questioner, Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, asked Jackson why he felt it was important that America’s democratic institutions, such as the courts, reflect the nation’s diversity.

Jackson responded that, among other reasons, it “strengthens the public’s confidence in our system.”

“We have a diverse society in the United States. There are people from all over who come to this great nation and make a living,” she said.

[Parte de la información de este informe provino de The Associated Press y Reuters.]

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