WATCH: ABA panel cites prosecutors who praise Jackson for unbiased approach
Published Date: 3/24/2022
Source: PBS NewsHour
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., questioned a panel of experts with the American Bar Association about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s sentencing record, which was a repeated subject throughout the confirmation hearings. On March 24, the final day of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Jackson, the committee chairman said several GOP senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee have made assertions that Jackson was “out of the mainstream” when it came to sentencing in child pornography cases. Durbin asked if there was any truth to the Republicans’ charge. After interviewing 250 judges and lawyers who had first-hand knowledge of Jackson's legal and judicial experience, Joseph M. Drayton with the association said, “None of them felt she demonstrated bias in any way.” He also quoted a prosecutor who said, "I do not observe any bias, and the judge was fair to all sides in connection to sentencing in all aspects." Following the Republican-led line of questioning that implied Jackson's sentencing pattern was lenient on people who had convictions tied to child pornography, Durbin asked if any interviewees shared those concerns. "To the extent that a prosecutor or a defense counsel who appeared before her in those types of cases felt that way, it would have come out in our interviews," Drayton said. 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. If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman on the high court. Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS NewsHour at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6 Follow us: Facebook: http://www.pbs.org/newshour Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/newshour Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour Subscribe: PBS NewsHour podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe