Ret. Judge Ann Claire Williams, who was the first Black woman to sit on Chicago-based federal district and appellate courts, gave remarks March 24 on the final day of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Williams said the American Bar Association’s voted unanimously that Jackson receive the highest rating as a Supreme Court nominee, following the association’s non-partisan, peer-reviewed evaluations about her qualifications.
“We don’t give suggestions on who should be nominated. We don’t recommend or endorse any nominee,” she said. “We don’t base our ratings on or express any view on the nominee’s philosophy, political affiliation or ideology.”
Everyone the ABA talked to, “uniformly gave the highest praise” about Jackson, Williams said.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to sit on the high court.
After three days of testimony from Jackson and questions from senators, the committee will hear from professional and personal witnesses who can speak to Jackson’s work and her character. Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden in February to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. After the hearings conclude, the committee will issue a recommendation in preparation for a full Senate vote.
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