The second day of confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden's Supreme Court pick, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, before the Senate Judiciary Committee was marked with misleading, aggressive, and often invasive questioning from Republican members.
Far-right Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas asked absurdly broad questions like, “Is 17 years too long or not long enough for criminals to spend in prison for murder?” Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee demanded Judge Jackson define the word "woman."
Another bizarre moment came from conservative Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who began his time with invasive questions about Judge Jackson's faith.
Watch below.
It’s 2022 and senator Lindsey Graham asked this question during a senate supreme court hearing.
pic.twitter.com/epTgVkKHJa
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) March 22, 2022
Graham asked Judge Jackson, who has expressed gratitude to God for her nomination, what her faith was, to which she responded, "Protestant," then clarified that she was "non-denominational after further coaxing from Graham.
The Senator proceeded to ask:
"Could you fairly judge a Catholic?"
Jackson noted that she works to fairly judge everyone, and Graham clarified that he believed she could, but continued to remark:
"I'm just asking this question because, how important is your faith to you?"
The Judge responded:
"Senator, personally, my faith is very important, but as you know, there's no religious test in the Constitution under Article VI, and it's very important to set aside one's personal views about things in the role of a judge."
Graham continued the bizarre line of questioning, asking Jackson "how faithful" she was and how many times she attended church, which she responded she was "reluctant" to discuss.
Soon it became clear that Graham was attempting to make a point about the confirmation hearings of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, whose devout Catholicism was scrutinized by some, back in 2020.
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York shamed Graham's stunt on Twitter, noting how much more qualified Judge Jackson was, compared to those questioning her.
When you’re far more qualified 😊😊 than the person determining your qualifications 😊😊😊 https://t.co/pE7xmjulrH
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 22, 2022
Social media users largely agreed.
Judicial hearing is shining a spotlight on the superlative qualities of KBJ.. and also the GOP senators clearly unfit for office.. shameful GOP..#ConfirmJudgeJackson https://t.co/Rp5uCvn2ua
— pam wo (@pamjwo) March 23, 2022
When they can’t get you on your qualifications so they ask you about religion and Children’s books #ConfirmJudgeJackson https://t.co/ACSpphoJ4U
— Alianza For Progress (@AlianzaProgress) March 23, 2022
Can we replace him? He's embarrassing the good folks from SC. We don't think like him. 🤦🏾♀️ https://t.co/4HhpLPHL2i
— Devonnie Simmons (@DevonnieSimmons) March 23, 2022
What tf has religion got to do with the position she’s being interviewed for? https://t.co/ERNMGLIHvT
— lola adesina (@LolaAdesina) March 23, 2022
The Congresswoman wasn't the only one to call out Graham.
He's out of his depth, likely intimidated by her grasp of the law and dripping with racial animus. The gall of Graham. https://t.co/DpKxrn1aQV
— Prodigal Daughter of the Dust (@mikagadsden) March 23, 2022
Some people are surrounded by light and don’t have to wear their faith as a badge because you can witness their light. There are others that hide behind the banner of faith (particularly confederate Christianity) to cover & distract from their evil actions, ways and spirit. https://t.co/el0kjiiYhE
— LaTosha Brown (@MsLaToshaBrown) March 22, 2022
This question would be illegal for a potential employer to ask in any other job interview. In the US Senate, it’s just Tuesday. https://t.co/UnpCchy7RW
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) March 22, 2022
I cannot stand this man https://t.co/Kre20M7hwt
— Cameron (@camreidabook) March 23, 2022
The audacity of old white men in power wtf https://t.co/LjHTecGbCN
— emma (@stevenson_emma) March 23, 2022
It's rare that I have a physical reaction to a public person's foolishness. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham literally nauseates me. https://t.co/TFvQ7xeYQM
— Charles Adler (@charlesadler) March 22, 2022
The third day of Judge Jackson's confirmation hearings is underway.
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