Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell heaped praise on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson following a meeting with the Supreme Court nominee Wednesday.
The Kentucky Republican said there was “no question” that she was a very qualified and intelligent pick for the Supreme Court. Noting his philosophical differences with her, McConnell sought to contrast GOP graciousness toward Jackson with Democratic hostility toward Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“I think she’s intelligent, very likely progressive. [The] Senate Republican minority intends to treat the nominee respectfully. I’m not at all interested, for example, in what someone may have written in her high school yearbook,” McConnell told Townhall editor Guy Benson on Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson Show.
YES, KETANJI BROWN JACKSON IS RELATED TO FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN
Some other Republicans have expressed dismay with President Joe Biden’s first nominee to the high court. For example, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham lamented her nomination as a win for the “radical Left.”
NEWS: @LeaderMcConnell discusses his meeting w/ SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson earlier today.
He says he asked her if she could affirm RBG & Breyer stance against court packing. She didn’t answer. I also asked him if she’s qualified for the job: https://t.co/f1CyTZcrJL pic.twitter.com/v1b9L9GiV9
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 2, 2022
In his interview with Benson, McConnell signaled his eagerness for his caucus to treat her respectfully despite their differences.
Although he praised Jackson, McConnell noted that he likely disagrees with her on important issues of jurisprudence. He did not say whether he would vote to confirm her.
Like most nominees to the high court, Jackson refrained from divulging her feelings on key issues, McConnell said. He tried to get her to rebuff calls from top Democrats, including Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, to expand the seats on the court. Liberal justices such as the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer both rejected calls to expand the court. McConnell said Jackson did not answer his question on that matter, though he believes the subject will arise in the future.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Jackson, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, began her charm offensive on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as she seeks to shore up support in an evenly divided Senate. A simple majority is needed to confirm a Supreme Court nominee, and Vice President Kamala Harris could serve as a tiebreaker.
Her confirmation hearings are set to begin in about three weeks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said his goal is to have her confirmed by the middle of April. If confirmed, she will replace Breyer, who is retiring.
