(CNN)CNN Opinion contributors share their tweets on the first day of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation hearing.
Watching #KetanjiBrownJackson confirmation hearing for the #SupremeCourt feels surreal. It's not anything I ever imagined I'd see in my lifetime--Not because there aren't many qualified Black women for the court, but because sexism & racism work so hard to diminish our dreams.
— RoxanneJones (@iamroxannejones) March 21, 2022
Even a few minutes into her opening statement, Judge Jackson already is displaying qualities and a personal story that will make her a difficult person to demonize.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
There's no question - #KetanjiBrownJackson is a woman of great accomplishment, grace, and gratitude. All important qualities for #SupremeCourt
— Alice Stewart (@alicetweet) March 21, 2022
GOP Judge Tom Griffiths introducing #JudgeKetanjiBrownJackson gives her bipartisan cred. Her endorsement by @GLFOP (Fraternal Order of Police) negates potential attacks on crime. And her opening statement is personal, patriotic, powerful. Impressive first day so far.
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) March 21, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson just spoke to every working parent in the world today when she acknowledged how hard it can be at times to balance her professional career with parenting, and admitted: "I didn't always get that balance right." 💯
— Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) March 21, 2022
Excellent and effective opening statement by KBJ--even if, or should I say especially because, it repudiates Left's view of judging.
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) March 21, 2022
History is being made: #JudgeKetanjiBrownJackson is so incredibly impressive. I'm in awe.
— Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) March 21, 2022
♥️Black women get nowhere without a tribe of other Black women lifting us up. I so appreciate Professor Lisa Fairfax, #KetanjiBrownJackson's former college roommate, introducing her sis for the nation's highest court. That is #BlackGirlLove #SupremeCourtHearing
— RoxanneJones (@iamroxannejones) March 21, 2022
Smart to have a retired a Republican-appointed appellate court judge introduce Judge Jackson but I wonder how it landed w/Rs on the panel when he warned about the challenges to democracy and the rule of law from "autocrats" and their followers, abroad and here at home.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
Marsha Blackburn is giving the purest distillation of conservative attacks on Jackson (plus a preview of the 2022 midterm arguments). Everything from the 1619 Project to trans athletes.
— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) March 21, 2022
The statements of Sens. #Hawley and #Blackburn show how the QAnon obsession with fake pedophilia accusations has entered the Republican mainstream.
— Jeffrey Toobin (@JeffreyToobin) March 21, 2022
A red flag should pop up on screen for every false claim Sen. Marsha Blackburn makes about #KetanjiBrownJackson.
— Natasha S. Alford (@NatashaSAlford) March 21, 2022
Opening day of KBJ hearing is just another reminder of how decisive Senate majority is on SCOTUS nominations.
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) March 21, 2022
Whole dynamic would be very different if Trump hadn't thrown away Senate seats from Georgia.
Supreme Court justices have zero say on expanding the size of the Court. That's entirely up to Congress and the President.
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) March 21, 2022
Private meetings between #KetanjiBrownJackson & Senators appear to have helped lower the temperature in #SupremeCourt confirmation hearing.
— Alice Stewart (@alicetweet) March 21, 2022
Speaks volumes for her.
Not to be outdone, @SenTomCotton opens up with right-wing sheet music on the border, critical race theory, "catch and release" prosecutors and more. Every one of them competing for a few seconds on Fox tonight.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
Breaktime on #KetanjiBrownJackson hearings
— Professor Renee Knake Jefferson (@reneeknake) March 21, 2022
My quick take so far:
Republicans spent more time on Kavanaugh and Thomas than #KBJ (note there will be no beer ?s)
Democrats sing #KBJ praises, linking her legacy to #RBG, Motley (confident this will be her 4th confirmation)
Hawley goes right into his accusations that Jackson is "soft on child pornographers," a Pizzagate/QAnon dogwhistle (and a sign of how much those conspiracies are seeping into the GOP).
— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) March 21, 2022
Sen Sasse also complaining about Kavanaugh and other R hearings and says that SCOTUS reaches beyond its constitutional purpose, but is more even-handed in blaming a broader problem involving all three branches and both parties going back decades. He's one of the reasonable ones.
— Jennifer Rodgers (@JenGRodgers) March 21, 2022
If KBJ is going to be held accountable for statements made by outside groups supporting the nomination, every Senator should be confronted with statements made by donors, and asked if they agree.
— Elliot Williams (@elliotcwilliams) March 21, 2022
Starting with any Senators who have received donations from January 6 protestors
Nice to see Democrats embracing Judge Jackson's prior experience as a public defender. Blumenthal's discussion of the role of public defenders from a prosecutor's perspective ("my greatest fear as a prosecutor was seeing defendants representing themselves") is key here.
— Democracy is in Trouble 💚💕 (@ProfTolson) March 21, 2022
Sen Cruz gives a false history lesson: it's the Dems fault that SCOTUS is now political. Effectively admits that it's about politics, but the Ds started it. Cruz hold the distinction of saying the most juvenile things with the most adult words of anyone in the Republican Party.
— Jennifer Rodgers (@JenGRodgers) March 21, 2022
.@SenTedCruz, the first of the '24 hopefuls to speak, makes the most nakedly partisan opening remarks- enough red meat that Lipator may be needed. Multiple shots at @JoeBiden; Ted Kennedy & Ds. Invocations of Bork; Thomas & Kavanaugh hearings; guns, abortion & softies on bench!
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
Klobuchar points out, Judge Jackson's parents once attended segregated schools and became school teachers. #KetanjiBrownJackson more than knows the definition of humble beginnings, despite criticism that she's too elite as a double Harvard grad. (The one time it's a problem btw)
— Natasha S. Alford (@NatashaSAlford) March 21, 2022
Ah, now Sen. Lee is getting to the point. After lots of philosophy, and even a little Greek mythology, Lee brings it around to the legitimacy of the court and therefore .... court packing. Lee hasn't raised an issue about her experience, but expect questions to her about this.
— Jennifer Rodgers (@JenGRodgers) March 21, 2022
Note Cornyn's use of words like "advocacy" to suggest #KetanjiBrownJackson is not an impartial judge even as he says he respects her accomplishments.
— Natasha S. Alford (@NatashaSAlford) March 21, 2022
Dianne Feinstein says, "The Supreme Court is not a political institution." It's an aspirational statement, not an accurate description.
— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) March 21, 2022
.@LindseyGrahamSC going in on the fact that KBJ is supported by the "radical left" (?) and that his preferred pick, Michelle Childs, would not have been.
— Elliot Williams (@elliotcwilliams) March 21, 2022
Someone should tell him that Childs would have gotten the same support. He's making up an excuse for not supporting KBJ.
.@senleahy speaks to his 20 SCOTUS confirmation hearings and the bipartisan nature of many of those votes. But he is looking back at septia-toned memories. This has become a highly partisan process.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
Graham, seen as a potential "yes" vote because of positive vote in prior confirmations, uses his opening comments to lay the groundwork for a "no" vote. "This is going to be about philosophy rather than the historic nature of the pic." Endorses Hawley's meritless attacks. Yikes
— Democracy is in Trouble 💚💕 (@ProfTolson) March 21, 2022
Lindsey Graham really brought his whole box of grievances to the hearings today.
— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) March 21, 2022
Respectful start to #KetanjiBrownJackson #SCOTUS confirmation hearings by @ChuckGrassley - saying he will look at her "record, views on the law, and judicial philosophy."
— Alice Stewart (@alicetweet) March 21, 2022
Grassley seems to be splitting hairs between attorneys who represent accused criminals by court appointment and criminal defense attorneys who, he says, want to undermine the law.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 21, 2022
Public defenders are not soft on crime. They are tough on injustice. That should be the philosophy of every Judge.
— Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) March 21, 2022
Already addressing the "soft on crime" attacks because we know regardless of #KetanjiBrownJackson being endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, her positions will be misrepresented.
— Natasha S. Alford (@NatashaSAlford) March 21, 2022
Away we go ... Jackson hearing starts with the stmt of Sen. Durbin reminding everyone of this historic nomination, calling it a proud day for America. Indeed. These opening stmts will tell us what Qs will be asked, esp by Rs.
— Jennifer Rodgers (@JenGRodgers) March 21, 2022
I hope this doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway (as a longtime prosecutor): Any person who zealously represents criminal defendants does a vital constitutional duty. Such service is crucial to our democracy and a credit to any lawyer's record.
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) March 21, 2022
It will be so telling if / when Republicans go after Judge Jackson for being a public defender. The right to legal representation in criminal cases is one of the most admirable parts of our justice system. Her work represents the best of America. Pathetic to see that attacked.
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) March 21, 2022
