Opinion: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson maintained composure in face of frustrating questions from Republican senators during Confirmation Hearing
Ketanji Brown Jackson. Photo credit: Harvard Gazette https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/eight-current-overseers-share-their-unique-stories/
Araya L Schroder, Staff Writer
On March 7, 2022, the Supreme Court appointed its newest judge – Ketanji Brown Jackson – who makes history as the first Black woman to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to the confirmation, Jackson was question in a Confirmation Hearing, where tension arose not only between her and Texas Senator, Ted Cruz, but also between Cruz and Senator Dick Durbin.
According to an article from The New York Times, during the questioning of Jackson, senators from the Republican party attempted to tarnish her record and derail her nomination while trying to paint her as a liberal extremist who had coddled criminals.
Irritatingly enough, while Cruz's questions for Jackson were meant to belittle her, Jackson answered as many of the questions she could until being interrupted by Cruz.
His insuppordance got to a point where Durbin had to step in, and ask him to cooperate. Durbin continued, "Senator, will you please let her respond." Cruz responded, "No, not if she's not going to answer my question." Considering the fact that each and every question he asked of Jackson, she spoke a couple words before being interrupted, so he could voice his mind.
As the questions continues, he interrupted again, after Jackson attempts one of the many times to respond to Cruz. Durbin directly commented to Jackson, "I have to say to the judge, there's no point in responding, He's going to interrupt." Cruz adds an infuriating comment to Durbin after not receiving the response from Jackson to the question he provided, "do you not want the American people to hear why," once his time was over.
After watching the commissions hearing, I felt Jackson demonstrated great professionalism and constructed well thought out responses when asked infuriating questions by Cruz.
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