In response to request for comment, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted, "It has always been the decision of any Supreme Court Justice if and when they decide to retire, and how they want to announce it, and that remains the case today.

"[12] President Biden cited his experience as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1997 as the driving force in the process of finding a candidate similar to Justice Breyer.

[14] In the wake of the impending Supreme Court vacancy, Democratic groups announced plans for a multi-million dollar campaign to promote Biden's eventual nominee.

[19] A poll in early February by Data for Progress found that 64% of Americans (including 93% of Democrats and 59% of independents) supported Biden's decision to nominate a Black woman.

[20] Some Republicans criticized Biden's pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the court as hypocritical, referencing his 2005 threat to filibuster Janice Rogers Brown,[21] a conservative judge on the D.C.

[1][2][3][4] In his remarks on the announcement, Biden listed "traits of pragmatism, historical perspective, wisdom, [and] character" as criteria for the nomination, characterized Jackson's rulings as "carefully reasoned, tethered to precedent, and [demonstrating respect] for how the law impacts everyday people," and cited her experience as a public defender, trial court judge, and member of the Sentencing Commission.

[11] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee including Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Patrick Leahy voiced their support for Jackson's nomination.

[30] Jackson's nomination also received support from two former federal Circuit Court judges appointed by Republican presidents, Thomas B. Griffith and J. Michael Luttig.

[34] Although not a formal endorsement, the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously rated Jackson "Well Qualified" to serve on the Supreme Court.

[27][28][29] Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell characterized Jackson as "the favored choice of far-left dark-money groups that have spent years attacking the legitimacy and structure of the court itself".

[45] Several members of the 22 person committee gave opening statements with Democrats speaking to Jackson's historic nomination, her qualifications and that her experience as a public defender "helps her to understand our justice system uniquely, through the eyes of people who couldn't afford a lawyer."

Republicans expressed various concerns they intended to explore, including her sentencing record in child pornography convictions and as to "whether Judge Jackson is committed to the Constitution as originally understood.

Jackson was asked questions related to critical race theory, dark money, abortion, gender identity, judicial activism, possible expansion of the Supreme Court (known as court-packing) and her sentencing record on child pornography cases.

[58] During his testimony, Marshall refused to acknowledge Joe Biden as the "duly elected and lawfully serving" president of the United States, which was widely reported in the media.