WASHINGTON, March 21 (Prensa Latina) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated by US President Joe Biden, today pledged a neutral position if confirmed to office.
“I have been a judge for nearly a decade and I take this responsibility and my duty to be independent very seriously,” Jackson said Monday at the first hearing to be held before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
The candidate, who becomes the first African American woman in more than 230 years to reach the country’s highest court, also said she would work to defend the Constitution and American democracy.
The hearing began at 11:00 a.m. local time, and for about four hours, the 22 Republican and Democratic senators on the committee, whose President, Democrat Richard J. Durbin, lauded the committee’s “record of excellence and integrity,” were heard for about four hours. by Jackson.
For their part, Republicans stuck to their messages against the candidate, who they accuse of not handling crimes harshly, particularly in child abuse cases.
However, Red Force members realized they did not have enough votes to stop the appointment.
At 51, the judge would replace outgoing Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who is set to retire, and her confirmation would not change the balance of power on the court, which is dominated by a 63 Conservative majority.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, committee members will question Jackson and on Thursday they will hear outside testimony.
According to The Hill newspaper, his appointment would give Biden and the Democrats a key victory ahead of the midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake.
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