Senate

McConnell to meet with Biden’s Supreme Court nominee Wednesday

by Jordain Carney - 02/28/22 11:53 AM ET

Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, is seated to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on pending judicial nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2021. — Reuters/Pool

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will meet Wednesday with federal appeals court judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, as the White House ramps up meetings with key senators.

In addition to McConnell, Jackson will meet with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the chairman and top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, respectively, the White House announced on Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) office previously announced that he will also meet with Jackson on Wednesday.

“Last week the President announced an extraordinarily qualified nominee in the mold of Justice Breyer, with a record of deep experience across our justice system and a demonstrated commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.

“Judge Jackson went to work immediately, doing prep on Saturday and Sunday, and she’s looking forward to her first meetings with Senators of both parties,” he added.

Biden announced on Friday that he was nominating Jackson to the Supreme Court, where if confirmed she would be the first Black female justice.

Democrats are hoping to confirm Jackson by April 8, when they are scheduled to leave for a two-week break.

Senate Democrats could confirm Jackson on their own if all 50 members of their caucus are united and Vice President Harris breaks a tie.

But Democrats are cautiously hopeful that she’ll be able to peel off at least one GOP vote. Bates, in his statement, also pointed to the praise that Jackson has received from former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the Fraternal Order of Police and retired D.C. Circuit Judge Thomas Griffith, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

Three Republicans voted last year to confirm Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

Durbin, during an interview with CNN on Sunday, said he had reached out to Republicans.

“I want it to be. I’ve reached out to many Republicans … asking them to keep an open mind and to meet with her,” Durbin said when asked if he thought a vote on her nomination could be bipartisan.