Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the Senate Judiciary Committee continued its Supreme Court confirmation hearings March 22.
Kennedy opened with a question about whether Jackson supported efforts to delegitimize the court, including “court packing," a term used to describe a partisan addition of justices to the Supreme Court with the intent of changing its ideological alignment.
“You don’t support efforts to delegitimize the United States Supreme Court, do you?” Kennedy asked.
“Senator I have nothing but esteem for the court or my hopefully future colleagues on the court or the work that the court does,” answered Jackson.
On further questioning, Jackson said it would “not be appropriate” to comment on the size of the court, as that was a decision that was left to Congress.
“Those are policy determinations for Congress. What the consequences of those are, are policy considerations for Congress, I'm just looking forward to working with the brilliant people who are there at whatever size Congress decides, if I am confirmed,” Jackson said.
Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden in February to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman on the high court. After opening statements from Jackson, her colleagues and the senators March 21, senators will spend two days questioning Jackson at length about her rulings and judicial philosophy. On the final day of the hearings March 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear from friends and colleagues of Jackson about her temperament and approach to the law.
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