Jackson Nomination Moves Forward After Committee Hits Partisan Deadlock

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday reached a party-line 11-11 vote on Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. 

Jackson’s confirmation is still expected later this week, however. While the Judiciary Committee will not formally recommend her nomination, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called a vote to discharge Jackson’s nomination from the committee. Because Republicans altered Senate rules in 2017 to overcome Democratic opposition to Justice Neil Gorsuch’s nomination, they cannot use the filibuster to stop the narrow Democratic majority from confirming Jackson. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney have also said they would support Jackson's nomination. 

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee again argued Monday that Jackson’s sentences in child sex abuse cases were lenient, and Democrats continued to praise Jackson’s record.

Coverage was widespread across the spectrum on Monday. Most reports noted that Jackson’s nomination was likely. Some coverage from left-rated outlets framed Senate Republicans as unusually or baselessly obstructionist; The New York Times (Lean Left) said Republicans “continued to rail against her on a variety of fronts, even as some prominent conservatives called their criticisms baseless.” Some right-rated outlets highlighted a letter opposing Jackson’s nomination signed by 10 Republican state Attorneys General.