Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley, Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters), -Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee defended Ketanji Jones Jackson’s nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court from Republican scrutiny as she was confirmed by the panel to be the first Black woman to serve the nation’s most powerful judicial organ.

The opening speeches were delivered by committee members. Democrats celebrated the historic nature and praise of her selection as a federal appellate judge and district court judge. Republicans attacked past rulings and sought to connect her with left-leaning advocacy groups.

Biden nominated Jackson (51), last month for a permanent job as the successor to retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. This set up a battle of confirmations in the tightly divided Senate.

She would become the 116th member of the High Court if she is confirmed.

“Not one justice has ever been Black women.” Judge Jackson can’t be the first,” said Senator Dick Durbin (Democratic chairman) in his opening speech.

It’s hard to be the first. It’s not easy to be the first. Durbin said that your presence today, and the willingness to face this challenge will inspire millions of women to see you as an inspiration,” Durbin continued.

Durbin spoke out in defense of Jackson. She said that attacks made against her by conservatives for being “soft on crime” are unfair and baseless. Durbin also stated her judicial record proved she wouldn’t be a “rubber seal” for Biden. Durbin pointed out that Jackson has been supported by law enforcement agencies, including the Fraternal Order of Police.

Jackson, who entered the packed hearing hall before the session began, was met by several members of the committee as well-wishers.

The top Republican in the Senate, Chuck Grassley said that “We will conduct a thorough and exhaustive examination of Judge Jackson’s record, views,”

Grassley claimed that Republicans won’t make it a spectacle, will show respect to Jackson and “ask difficult questions about Judge Jackson’s judicial philosophy.”

Grassley suggested that Republicans will probe Jackson’s two years as a criminal defense lawyer defending low income criminal defendants. He said that it was fair for Republicans to investigate “criminal lawyers who disagree with criminal laws or wish to undermine laws with which they are in disagreement.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, NYSE:), questioned why left-leaning groups had supported Jackson’s nomination.

Graham was one of three Republicans to vote to confirm Jackson in her position as appeals court judge. This is partly because liberal groups oppose Michelle Childs (a federal district judge who is based in South Carolina), and Graham indicated that his vote wasn’t certain.

Graham declared, “This is the Supreme Court’s new game and it is disturbing for me that there has been an attempt by the left to discredit a nominee of my state.”

Graham claimed that Republican court nominees were asked difficult questions about their judicial philosophy by Democrats at previous confirmation hearings. Republicans, however, would be called racists if the Democrats did so.

“The bottom line is that we’re all racists, if you ask tough questions. We won’t let that happen. Graham stated that we are used to this routine by now.

Jackson is scheduled to give an opening statement on Monday. Biden’s Democratic colleagues hold a slim majority in the Senate. This body has the constitutional authority to confirm judicial nominations by the president.

Jackson was previously confirmed by the Senate to three federal positions, the most recent being last year when Biden appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit. This nomination came after she had served eight years in Washington as a federal District Judge.

IDEOLOGICAL BALANCE

She would not alter the ideological balance on the Supreme Court’s conservative majority which includes three of Trump’s Republican nominees. However, it would give Biden the opportunity to refresh its liberal bloc and add a younger justice capable of serving for decades. Breyer is the oldest court member at 83.

Jackson was brought up in Miami. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Jackson served as a Supreme Court clerk to Breyer. Later, Jackson represented defendants in criminal cases who couldn’t afford lawyers.

Biden had promised to nominate a Black woman for the court in 2020, fulfilling a long-overdue milestone. Her confirmation would make her the third Black justice after Clarence Thomas who was appointed in 1991. He is still serving. Thurgood Marshall died in 1993.

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy declared, “With your presence here today you are writing another page in American history”

On Sunday, the Supreme Court stated that Thomas had been admitted to Washington for treatment of an infection.

Jackson will also become the sixth woman on the Supreme Court. Currently, there are three female justices.

Because Vice President Kamala Harris has the ability to cast a tiebreaking vote, it is 50-50 split in Senate. Jackson’s confirmation would require a simple majority vote. That means she would receive the job, regardless of how Republicans act.

With witnesses testifying as to Jackson’s ability for the job, Thursday marks the end of the confirmation hearing. After the confirmation vote, which will be held on the Senate’s floor in the following weeks, the Judiciary Committee could vote on the nomination.