[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1975-S1976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF KETANJI BROWN JACKSON

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today in support of the 
nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice on the 
U.S. Supreme Court. I have had the privilege of serving in this body 
for nearly three decades now.
  In that time, I have participated in the confirmation hearings of 10 
Supreme Court Justices and hundreds of nominees to our Federal circuit 
and district courts. I have carefully scrutinized Judge Jackson's 
record and listened very closely to her testimony. In my view, Judge 
Jackson is both well qualified and extremely prepared to take on the 
important role of serving on the U.S. Supreme Court.
  Judge Jackson is a graduate of both Harvard University and Harvard 
Law School, a former Supreme Court clerk, a former Federal public 
defender, and a former U.S. Sentencing Commissioner. On top of that, 
Judge Jackson has served as a federal judge for nearly a decade.
  Judge Jackson would be the first Federal public defender to sit on 
the Supreme Court and the first Justice since Thurgood Marshall with 
significant experience representing low-income defendants in criminal 
cases. As a former public defender, Judge Jackson truly understands the 
power of our constitutional rights, including the Sixth Amendment right 
to counsel and the Fifth Amendment right to due process. Judge Jackson 
would also join Justice Sotomayor as the only former Federal district 
court judges serving on the Supreme Court.
  What has impressed me most about Judge Jackson does not appear on her 
resume. That is Judge Jackson's steadfast commitment to the fair and 
impartial application of the law, her deep knowledge of the U.S. 
Constitution, and her remarkable judicial temperament. These qualities 
were demonstrated in her testimony before the Judiciary Committee 
earlier this month. They were also shown in the letters and testimony 
of the many people--of all ideological viewpoints--who have supported 
Judge Jackson's nomination.
  First, Judge Jackson's respect for the law and the Constitution are 
clear from the nearly 600 legal opinions she has drafted as a Federal 
judge. Her legal opinions are clear and detailed. As she explained 
during her confirmation hearings, Judge Jackson carefully and fairly 
applies the law to the specific facts of each case. And Judge Jackson 
takes the time to explain why she reached each decision. In my view, it 
is important that the decisions of the Supreme Court are accessible to 
the American people. Judge Jackson's approach to judicial decision-
making will help to ensure transparency in her judging and help to 
restore the public's confidence in the decisions of the Supreme Court.
  Second, Judge Jackson clearly has deep legal knowledge. During her 
more than 20 hours of testimony before the Judiciary Committee, she 
spoke with skill on a wide range of topics. She addressed legal issues 
of all kinds, including separation of powers, the First Amendment, 
administrative law, criminal sentencing, and much more. I believe Judge 
Jackson has the knowledge and expertise to decide the most difficult 
and pressing legal issues facing this Nation.
  Finally, during her hearings, Judge Jackson also showed that she has 
a remarkable temperament. Lawyers and judges who have worked with her, 
or appeared before her, have confirmed that Judge Jackson brings this 
temperament with her in all aspects of her work. They have told the 
Senate that she is as collegial, calm, and steadfast as she appeared to 
be during her hearings.
  For example, Judge Thomas Griffith testified in support of Judge 
Jackson's nomination and focused on her character and temperament, in 
addition to her exceptional qualifications. Judge Griffith is a retired 
judge of the D.C. Circuit and was appointed to the bench by President 
George W. Bush. Judge Griffith said that Judge Jackson has modeled the 
ideal qualities of a judge, including diligence, carefulness, high 
character, deep legal knowledge, and broad experience.
  Witnesses from the American Bar Association also testified about 
Judge Jackson's sterling reputation for integrity. Those witnesses 
interviewed lawyers and judges who have known and worked with Judge 
Jackson at various points over the course of her career. And, in those 
interviews, lawyers and judges who were familiar with Judge Jackson 
uniformly praised her character. They called her ``first rate,'' 
``impeccable,'' and ``beyond reproach.'' One comment said: ``You write 
the word `integrity,' and then you put her initials next to it.''

[[Page S1976]]

  The American Bar Association's interviews also revealed that 
prosecutors and defense attorneys alike regard Judge Jackson as fair, 
balanced, and unbiased. She is precisely the kind of Justice we need on 
the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson is plainly up to the task of 
faithfully interpreting our Constitution and our laws and fairly 
applying the law in each and every case.
  Judge Jackson laid out in simple terms the three-part methodology she 
uses in each case to ensure that her decisions are informed by the 
arguments of the parties, the facts, and the law, and not by any 
personal views she may hold. Judge Jackson's thoughtful methodology 
shows that she appreciates how important it is for judges to approach 
each and every case with an open mind and to avoid both actual and 
perceived conflicts of interest.
  I believe Judge Jackson is an extraordinary person. Her rich family 
history in law enforcement and her background as a Federal public 
defender, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, a trial judge, 
and an appellate judge will benefit our Supreme Court.
  It will be my great pleasure to vote to confirm Judge Jackson to be 
an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. And I hope that my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle will do the same.

                          ____________________