Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas said in opening remarks March 21 for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings that he was concerned by some of the positions she has taken in her defense work over her career.
“I’m a bit troubled by some of the positions that you’ve taken and arguments that you’ve made representing people who have committed terrorist acts against the united states and other dangerous criminals,” he said.
In law, there is a long-held belief that it is the job of a defense attorney to provide a zealous defense for their clients. “As someone who has deep respect for the adversarial system of justice, I understand the importance of zealous advocacy, but sometimes this zealous advocacy has gone beyond the pale, and in some instances it appears that your advocacy has bled over into your decision making process as a judge,” he added.
Cornyn said he was troubled by Jackson’s defense of inmates at Guantanamo Bay, and as her work as a public defender, something to which some Republicans have pointed as evidence that Jackson would be soft on crime.
Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden in February to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman on the high court.
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