GOP Senator Makes Big Announcement About SCOTUS Nominee

(UnitedVoice.com) – The Senate is currently split 50/50 along ideological lines (both of the Independent senators caucus with the Left). That makes the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson dicy business. However, it seems President Joe Biden now has all of the votes he needs to get his nominee onto the highest court in the country.

On March 30, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) released a statement pledging to vote to confirm Jackson to the court. The Republican lawmaker said she reviewed the judge’s judicial record, listened to her testimony to the Senate and reached the conclusion that she has “the experience, qualification, and integrity” to sit on the SCOTUS.

Collins said the process for confirming justices has become too partisan, explaining it’s not their duty to decide if the “nominee reflects the ideology of an individual Senator” or whether they’d rule the way an individual would want. They’re supposed to assess whether the nominee has the qualifications and experience to follow the law.

Susan Collins’ full statement in support of Jackson, noting the “process is broken.” “Part of the reason is that, in recent years, the process has increasingly moved away from what I believe to be appropriate for evaluating a Supreme Court nominee.” pic.twitter.com/qpKtJUwdkM

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 30, 2022

Collins’ decision to back Jackson all but guarantees her confirmation. Currently, at least 49 Liberal senators, including Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), are expected to vote for the nominee. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) has not said how she will vote, but Collins reportedly gives the Democrats the 50 votes they need.

There’s also a possibility Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and/or Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) might vote for her as well. If they did, or if Sinema decides to endorse Jackson, then Vice President Kamala Harris would not need to break the 50/50 tie to confirm her. Of course, all of this is speculation, something unexpected could happen – it’s just unlikely.