WATCH: Sen. Whitehouse's opening statement in Jackson Supreme Court confirmation hearings

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., gave opening remarks March 21 as the Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off its Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

“Judge Jackson will be an exemplary justice both because of the qualities that she possesses, and because she did not undergo a secret pre-selection process to get here. She is before us on the basis of her own merit,” Whitehouse said. He argued against a Republican position during the hearings that “dark money” groups worked for Jackson’s nomination.

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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