Headline RoundupMarch 24th, 2022

Jackson Takes Questions on Race, Crime and Biology in Day 3 of Senate Hearings

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson continued to face tough questions from Republicans on Day 3 of her Senate confirmation hearings.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) and other Republicans continued to press Jackson on her rulings in child pornography cases, while some alleging that her sentences were much shorter than what prosecutors sought. Jackson said her goal was to "assign proportional punishment" when defendants may have "differing levels of culpability." When asked by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to define what a woman is, Jackson replied, "No, I can’t. I'm not a biologist." In response to a question about why government institutions should "reflect the diversity of our nation's citizenry," Jackson said such diversity "lends and bolsters public confidence in our system."

Coverage from left-rated sources continues to frame Jackson as qualified and worthy of praise, and her nomination as historic. Many on the left attribute criticisms and tough questioning of Jackson to hyperpolarized politics, racism and sexism. The right continues to paint Jackson as overly progressive and soft on crime. Coverage from right-rated outlets often highlighted her response to Blackburn's question, and criticized her for purportedly posturing to progressives by ignoring biological reality. Some on the right juxtaposed her declining to define what a woman is with the political left's focus on celebrating her gender, framing that apparent disconnect as an example of political hypocrisy and failed identity politics.

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