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WATCH: Jackson says criminals must be held accountable — but fairly

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In the Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked the Supreme Court nominee to address suggestions that she’s “soft on crime” or “anti-law enforcement” because of her prior work as a public defender.

Jackson noted that she has had family members who served in police departments in different parts of the country and that crime, its effects on communities and the need for law enforcement “are not abstract concepts or political slogans” to her.

Jackson also said that as a lawyer and a citizen, she cares deeply about the Constitution and “the rights that make us free.” She said that the American legal system is “exemplary throughout the world” because it ensures that the accused are treated fairly. Holding people accountable for their crimes is essential for the functioning of society, Jackson said, and she emphasized that that must be done fairly under the Constitution.

“As a judge who has to decide how to handle these cases, I know it’s important to have arguments from both sides, to have competent counsel,” Jackson said. “It doesn’t mean that lawyers condone the behavior of their clients. They’re making arguments on behalf of their clients, in defense of the Constitution and in service of the court — and it is a service.”

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. After opening statements from Jackson, her colleagues and the senators March 21, senators will spend two days questioning Jackson at length about her rulings and judicial philosophy. On the final day of the hearings March 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear from friends and colleagues of Jackson about her temperament and approach to the law.

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Category
U.S. & Canada
Tags
KBJ, Ketanji Brown Jackson, SCOTUS
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