Judge Ketanji brown Jackson. This gives Democrats at least one Republican vote, and almost guarantees that Jackson will be the first Black woman on The Supreme Court.
After four days of hearings last Wednesday, Collins met again with Jackson and stated Wednesday that she “possesses the experience and qualifications to serve as associate justice on The Supreme Court.”
Collins stated, “I will therefore vote to confirm she to this position.”
Collins’ support gives Democrats at most a one-vote cushion within the 50-50 Senate. It also likely saves them from using Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote for confirmation President Joe Biden. Senate Democratic leaders are pushing for a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, and then a final Senate vote to confirm Jackson later in the week.
Ron Klain, White House Chief of Staff, tweeted that he was grateful to Collins for giving Jackson “fair, thoughtful consideration” and other nominees to the lower courts.
Jackson would replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer and would also be the sixth Black justice. She would also be the court’s first ex-public defender.
It is likely that all 50 Democrats will support her. However, one notable moderate Democrat, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has not yet stated how she will vote.
Collins was the most likely Republican supporter of Jackson. She has a history voting for Supreme Court nominees chosen by both presidents of each party, as well other judicial nominations.
She’s only Supreme Court nominee to have voted against her election in mid-1990s was Justice Amy Coney Barrett. This nomination was made by Donald Trump in response to the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just weeks before Trump’s defeat to Biden. Collins was running for reelection in that year and said that she voted against Barrett due to the six-week timeline. Collins stated that Barrett was not being criticized at the time.
The Maine senator stated that she does not expect to always be in agreement with Jackson’s decisions in her support for Jackson.
Collins stated, “That alone is not disqualifying.” Collins said, “Indeed that statement applies all six justices, nominated both by Republican and Democratic presidents whom I voted to confirm.”
Collins stated that she believes the process has become more divided along party lines and is now “broken”. The Supreme Court confirmations in 1994, when Collins was first elected to the Senate were more bipartisan. Breyer, who will be stepping down in the summer, was first confirmed by the Senate on an 87-9 vote back in 1994.
Collins stated that the Constitution clearly gives the Senate the responsibility to review the qualifications and experience of each nominee. It is not to determine if a nominee represents the ideology of a senator or would rule as he would like.
Jackson’s hearings saw several Republican senators question her about sentencing decisions during her nine-year tenure as a federal judge, and child pornography cases specifically. Many of the senators are aiming to run for president and asked her the same questions over and over again in an attempt to portray Jackson as too soft on sex criminals.
Jackson stated to the committee that “nothing could have been further from the truth” as she explained in detail her sentencing decisions. Jackson stated that some cases had given her nightmares, and were “among my worst ever.”
Collins stated that Jackson and Collins discussed “in depth many issues that were raised during her hearing.” Sometimes I agreed with her, sometimes I disagreed.”
It is not clear if other GOP senators will vote in favor of Jackson. Senator Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that he “cannot” and would not support Jackson, citing concerns expressed by the GOP about her sentencing record as well as her support from liberal advocacy organizations.
Jackson continues to make rounds in the Senate, meeting with Republican and Democratic senators. She met Tuesday with Utah Senator Mitt Romney. He said that he wasn’t sure if he would support her.
Romney stated that he had an “excellent encounter” with Jackson and found him to be intelligent and capable.
The Republican senator said that he enjoyed the discussion and was very happy to share his thoughts with reporters. “I haven’t made a decision. I will let you know when I do. It won’t be until the day before the vote.
Romney voted against Jackson in last year’s Senate confirmation as a federal appels court judge. Collins, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham were all Republicans who voted against Jackson at that time.
Graham and Murkowski indicated that they may vote against her right now. Murkowski stated in a statement that she had made before the hearings, “I’ve been clear that voting to confirm someone to a lower court doesn’t signal how I will vote to elect a Supreme Court justice.”
Graham was among several Republicans who pressed Jackson about the child pornography cases. He has voiced his disappointment that Biden chose Jackson over the South Carolina federal judge.
Jackson also voiced grievances during the hearing. Jackson asked Jackson about Jackson’s religion and whether she attends church regularly. He made heated comments, which he claimed were fair game following unfair criticisms of Barrett’s Catholicism.
