Senator Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia, said on Monday that he hoped to hear about how Judge Jackson would consider cases pertaining to First Amendment protections, and disputes over executive war powers.
How much will senators focus on Jackson’s public defender experience?
If confirmed, Judge Jackson would be the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court.
Democrats have largely celebrated Judge Jackson’s experience representing criminal defendants, arguing that it brings an important perspective to the bench, especially in cases focused on civil rights. Republicans on the committee, including Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, also expressed admiration for her work on Monday.
When considering Judge Jackson for previous judicial posts, however, Republicans asked whether the same experience, which includes representation of detainees at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, could color Judge Jackson’s rulings on policies related to criminal sentencing or immigration.
Judge Jackson has previously batted back such questions by saying that she was assigned the Guantánamo cases and that her work did not necessarily represent her personal views.
But the issue appears likely to resurface as the four-day hearing continues.