Cornyn Promises ‘Thorough But Civil’ Supreme Court Hearing for Judge Jackson

Monday, I delivered the following opening remarks during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

These proceedings will be thorough but civil. As a member of this committee, I have had the opportunity to provide advice and consent on seven previous Supreme Court nominations. This is number eight. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the way the Senate conducts these proceedings and so have the American people.

There are some, driven by their ideology, that want the Supreme Court to do more than what I’ve just described.

And when the Court does not deliver the results they want, they attack its institutional integrity and legitimacy.

In recent years, these radical views have made their way into the mainstream. On the campaign trail, President Biden refused to disavow court-packing. Two years ago, the Democratic Leader of the Senate went to the Supreme Court steps and threatened two sitting Supreme Court Justices by name if they did not rule in a particular way. Dark money groups like Demand Justice have paid millions of dollars to promote court-packing and sow public distrust in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.

I'm a bit troubled by some of the positions you’ve taken in arguments that you have made representing people who have committed terrorist acts against the United States and other dangerous criminals. As someone who has deep respect for the adversarial system of justice, I understand the importance of zealous advocacy, but it appears that sometimes this zealous advocacy has gone beyond the pale. And in some instances, it appears that your advocacy has bled over into your decision-making process as a judge.

I'm also interested, as others have mentioned, in your opinion why pro-abortion, dark money groups like Demand Justice and anti-religious liberty groups are pouring millions of dollars into a public campaign in support of your nomination.

I assure you that you will have every opportunity to address these concerns as the Committee evaluates your ability to fairly and impartially deliver justice should you be confirmed.