SC’s Scott joins Graham, to vote ‘no’ on Biden’s Supreme Court nominee. Here’s why
The U.S. Senate’s only Black Republican said he plans to vote against confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a statement issued by his office late Monday, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. acknowledged Jackson’s historic nomination to the nation’s highest court but said he has concerns about her judicial philosophy.
“It is clear that Judge Jackson’s judicial philosophy and positions on the defining issues of our time make her the wrong choice for the Supreme Court,” Scott said, echoing qualms expressed by his fellow South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who opposes Jackson for a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest bench. “From leaving the door open on court packing to her multiple overturned opinions, I cannot support a nominee with her record of judicial activism.”
Jackson’s confirmation vote is expected this week in the U.S. Senate, which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
Last month, Scott said he wouldn’t make his decision based on skin color as Jackson has been nominated to be the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The historic nature of Judge Jackson’s nomination reinforces the progress our country has made,” Scott said in his statement. “However, ideology must be the determining factor — not identity — when considering such an important lifetime appointment.”
Graham and Scott had praised Michelle Childs, a federal judge from South Carolina, who they had hoped would have been Biden’s nominee and was someone who Graham predicted would have received more than 60 votes in the Senate.
Before his consideration, Biden nominated Childs to the D.C. Circuit. Her nomination remains active.
“I remain disappointed that President (Joe) Biden missed the opportunity to unite the country with a mainstream nominee that could have received resounding bipartisan support,” Scott said.
Scott has been critical of previous judicial nominees, including two in 2018 during the Trump administration.
He refused to support Ryan Bounds for a position on an appeals court because Bounds had a record of racist writings. Bounds’ nomination was eventually withdrawn.
And Scott had concerns over Thomas Farr’s nomination to a federal judge position in North Carolina because of his efforts to suppress Black voters. The Senate ultimately voted against confirming Farr.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 9:43 AM.
