Jackson, 51, is currently a judge at the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. and was chosen by President Biden last week to replace outgoing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she would be the first Black female Supreme Court justice.
Durbin sent a email to his colleagues, “As I had said from the time Justice Breyer announced that he was retiring, the Committee will undergo a fair process to consider Judge Jackson’s nomination.” “I look forward Judge Jackson’s appearance before this Committee, and to respectful hearings.”
Durbin stated that the Judiciary Committee will present opening statements, introduce Jackson, and then Jackson would make a statement. The committee members will question each other for the next two days. Outside witnesses will testify on day four and final hearings.
Democrats control an evenly divided Senate, and they hope to quickly confirm Jackson to the top court. Due to a 2017 change to the rules of the Senate, a simple majority is required to confirm Supreme Court justices. Jackson met with Capitol Hill lawmakers, including Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, and Mitch McConnell on Wednesday.
Jackson graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard University. She clerked for Breyer in 1999. She has worked as a private lawyer and as a public defense attorney and was a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Eight years ago, she was a federal judge in Washington. In 2021, Merrick Garland, who stepped down in order to become attorney general of the United States, was named her to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit.
Jackson was confirmed by three Republican senators. Circuit: Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted to confirm Jackson to the D.C. Graham, who was the former chairman of Judiciary Committee, stated that he expected a respectful but interesting hearing when her nomination was announced.
