Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is revealing when Democrats are aiming to confirm President Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Schumer is hoping to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson before members of the upper chamber leave for a two-week break in April.
The Hill reports:
“We want to do this fairly but expeditiously. … We would like to get this done and have the judge approved by the Senate before the Easter break,” Schumer told reporters after his meeting with Jackson.
Schumer’s plan matches the 30 to 40 days the White House and top Democrats have eyed for the timeline between a formal announcement of the nominee to a confirmation vote.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has also pointed to the April break as a deadline for the nomination. Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, hasn’t said when he’ll hold a hearing on the nomination, though Schumer hinted the scheduling announcement is imminent.
Democrats are able to confirm Jackson on their own if all 50 of their members remain united but Sen. Schumer remained optimistic she would be able to gain support from some Republicans as well.
“I think she deserves support from the other side of the aisle. And I am hopeful that a good number of Republicans will vote for her, given who she is,” Schumer said.
The Senate is scheduled to leave town on April 8th.
On Wednesday, reports announced that Jackson’s confirmation hearings will begin on March 21st.
Fox News reports:
The first day of the hearing will be limited to statements from each member of the committee, as well as those who will formally introduce Jackson, and Jackson herself. The next two days, Tuesday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 23, will be for senators to question Jackson, and the committee will meet behind closed doors March 23 to go over Jackson’s FBI background investigation.
The final day of the hearing, March 24, will be for outside witnesses to testify, including the American Bar Association which customarily rates federal judicial nominees with a possible finding of “Not Qualified,” “Qualified,” or “Well Qualified.”
In addition to the questions Jackson will face in person at the hearing, she will also be presented with written “questions for the record.” Durbin said those questions must be delivered to her by March 24 at 5pm.
“I look forward to Judge Jackson’s appearance before the Committee and to respectful and dignified hearings,” Durbin’s letter concluded.
Republicans are expected to challenge Jackson based on her record and judicial philosophy, as opposed to getting personal which has been Democrats’ go-to move for past Republican nominees.
