The Senate will begin holding confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, from March 21 to 24, according to Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.
“As I have said from the time that Justice Breyer announced his retirement, the Committee will undertake a fair and timely process to consider Judge Jackson’s nomination,” Durbin wrote in a letter to colleagues outlining the schedule. “I look forward to Judge Jackson’s appearance before the Committee and to respectful and dignified hearings.”
On March 21, Jackson will be introduced to members of the committee with featured remarks from both herself and the senators.
ACADEMICS DEBATE WHETHER JACKSON SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF IN HARVARD ADMISSIONS CASE
Questions for Jackson by the members of the Senate will commence on March 22 and 23, typically marking the most contentious time for judicial nominees, as lawmakers interview candidates on their qualifications and professional background. The hearings will conclude on March 24 with testimony from the American Bar Association and other witnesses.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the panel’s top Republican member, said the timeline set out by Durbin was acceptable but questioned whether it would present “enough time for every Republican that wants to have a face-to-face meeting with the candidate.”
“I haven’t had Republicans tell me how many want to meet with her, but I know all of the members of the committee do,” Grassley said, noting there are 39 other Republicans who may still want to meet with Jackson. “We’re going to take our job responsibility. We’re going to have a fair hearing, an open hearing, thoroughly vet.”
Earlier Wednesday, Jackson met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. She is also slated to meet with Durbin and Grassley.
“I think she deserves support from the other side of the aisle,” Schumer said. “And I am hopeful that a good number of Republicans will vote for her, given who she is.”
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Democrats hope to confirm Jackson as the first black woman Supreme Court justice by April 8, though Breyer will not step down from the bench until after the last Friday of June.
If the Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance her, Jackson needs at least 51 votes to be confirmed. Democrats control 50 seats and have Vice President Kamala Harris’s tiebreaking vote.
