The White House has begun its defense of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as some Republicans label her a far-left jurist.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki drew comparisons between retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and his former clerk, Jackson, as one reason why Republicans should confirm her to the country’s highest court.
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“Judge Jackson is someone who very much is in the mold of Justice Breyer, having even clerked for him,” she said.
Psaki also praised Jackson, a judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, for her judicial approach, contending that Jackson has “issued opinions without regard to partisan considerations.”
“She’s ruled in favor of Republicans and Democrats, [and] she’s ruled for and against the government, regardless of whether the government is led by a Democratic president or a Republican president,” Psaki said. “Litigants, lawyers, and judges across the ideological spectrum appreciate her ability to be an impartial adjudicator, and that’s exactly what you want.”
“She’s even clerked for three different federal judges who were appointed by presidents of different political parties,” she added. “Anyone who is already ruling her out without even meeting with her, engaging with her, and reviewing her extensive record as a fair and just judge, you know, there may be other reasons for that.”
Republicans such as South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham have expressed their disappointment with President Joe Biden’s nominee. Graham had supported South Carolina-based U.S. District Court Judge K. Michelle Childs.
Psaki revealed more details about Biden’s nomination process as well, including that he conducted interviews on Valentine’s Day and advised Jackson of his decision late Thursday.
“The president called [Senate Majority] Leader [Chuck] Schumer, Sen. [Mitch] McConnell, [House] Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, and [spoke] with [House Majority Whip Jim] Clyburn separately this morning,” she said.
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Vice President Kamala Harris conveyed Biden’s choice to former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Psaki added.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first black female Supreme Court justice.
