Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley, Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Wednesday saw the third day of confirmation hearings and Democrats defended Ketanji brown Jackson, the nominee for President Joe Biden, who was to make her the first Black woman at the U.S. Supreme Court.

After a long session Tuesday, Jackson faced more questions from members of Senate Judiciary Committee. During which Republicans asked a number of hostile questions. Jackson denied Republican allegations that Jackson was inadvertently permissive as a judge when sentencing child pornography offenders. She also rejected criticism of Jackson’s legal representation of certain detainees held at Guantanamo bay, Cuba during her earlier career.

Republican senators tried to tie Jackson to leftist activist groups as well to “critical racism theory,” which asserts that American institutions and history are biased.

On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin (chair of the committee) praised Jackson’s resilience under pressure and supported her record. He claimed that some Republicans were using the hearing to “showcase talking points for next year’s election,” in which control of Congress will be up for grabs.

Durbin stated, “Well, they have made a mess of the stereotype”, referring to Durbin’s endorsement by law enforcement organizations, such as the National Fraternal Order of Police. Durbin claimed that Durbin’s child pornography sentencing approach was the same as most federal judges.

Chuck Grassley (the top Republican on the committee) complained about senators’ requests for documents relating to Jackson’s sentencing record as well as her time in the U.S. Sentencing Commission: A federal agency that provides guidelines on sentencing.

“How does the United States Senate expect to examine a document that is not in its possession?” Grassley was curious.

Jon Ossoff was Wednesday’s first senator to ask Jackson questions. Ossoff said that the Senate confirmation process sometimes can be intrusive, cruel, and unfair. Jackson spoke out about her brother’s experiences as a U.S. police officer, and military veteran.

Jackson’s confirmation has been reaffirmed without any Republican threats. The Senate is currently controlled by Democrats. Given that she needs a simple majority to confirm and the Senate is split 50-50, Jackson would receive the job regardless of whether the Republicans vote.

Jackson, who was previously a federal court district judge for eight years, has been a federal appellate judges since 2011. Jackson promised to be an independent judge who wouldn’t insert her opinions into decisions.

Although her confirmation will not alter the court’s ideology balance (it has a conservative majority of 6-3), it would allow Biden to refresh its liberal bloc with an experienced 51-year old jurist who is young enough for long-term service.

Last month, Jackson was nominated by the Democratic President to fill in for retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer.

Jackson’s questions will be open to all members of the commission, including those from outside experts who testify Thursday.

Jackson responded to Republican allegations that Jackson has been too soft on child pornography defendants. She said Tuesday that as a mother and judge, she was aware that there could not be more truth. She stated that she had done her duty in each case to hold defendants responsible.

A March 20 letter from the sentencing experts to the committee said Jackson’s sentencing was within the national mainstream of federal court judges.

Jackson stated that Jackson’s past representation of Guantanamo prisoners was in accordance with American standards of fairness.

Jackson, if confirmed, would become the sixth Black woman to sit on the court’s high-court, and also the 116th. Jackson will be joining the court as a judge, making it the first time that the court has four women and two Black justices.