Senate Confirmation Hearings Set to Open for Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Senate Judiciary Committee begins confirmation hearings Monday for President Biden’s first Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who if confirmed would succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

Judge Jackson once clerked for Justice Breyer, a continuity that points to a lower temperature for this week’s proceedings than for those arising from the last three vacancies, which allowed then-President Trump to solidify the court’s conservative majority. If confirmed, Judge Jackson, who sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, would maintain the three-member liberal minority on a court dominated by six conservatives.

The hearings are scheduled to last four days, with Monday’s session featuring 10-minute opening statements from committee members followed by a statement of the same length from Judge Jackson. The sessions Tuesday and Wednesday will likely be the liveliest of the week, with members of the committee questioning Judge Jackson about her judicial philosophy and past opinions. Thursday’s agenda will include testimony from outside experts and legal observers on Judge Jackson’s record and her suitability for the court.

Barring unforeseen revelations, little stands in the way of Judge Jackson’s confirmation. The Senate’s breakdown is unchanged since last year, when three Republicans joined all 50 Democrats and independents to confirm her to the D.C. Circuit. But Supreme Court confirmations are high-profile events that present opportunities and risks for all concerned.