WASHINGTON – South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott will join most of his GOP colleagues and vote against appointing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
While noting the historic nature of the pick regarding the first Black women headed to the court, Scott announced it is the ideology of President Joe Biden's nominee that is blocking his support.
"The historic nature of Judge Jackson’s nomination reinforces the progress our country has made," Scott said in a statement late on April 4 and after the Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked 11-11 on sending her name to the Senate floor.
"However, ideology must be the determining factor — not identity — when considering such an important lifetime appointment," he continued.
"It is clear that Judge Jackson’s judicial philosophy and positions on the defining issues of our time make her the wrong choice for the Supreme Court," Scott said. "From leaving the door open on court packing to her multiple overturned opinions, I cannot support a nominee with her record of judicial activism."
Scott joins with fellow South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in announcing against the pick.
He went on to blame Biden for making a selection that "missed the opportunity to unite the country with a mainstream nominee that could have received resounding bipartisan support."
Scott originally met with Jackson on March 17 where he pledged his support would come down to "a comprehensive examination of her record and judicial philosophy."
Even though the Judiciary Committee tied 11-11, the nomination is still on track to be voted on by the full Senate later this week. It was the first time the committee has deadlocked on a Supreme Court nomination in three decades, The Associated Press reported.
The vote will not be on pure partisan lines. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney said they will vote to confirm Jackson’s nomination.
Jackson is a federal appellate court judge who would take over for retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
