Highlights from Senate vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Senate voted 53-47 in a bipartisan vote on Jackson's nomination.

Last Updated: April 7, 2022, 5:29 PM EDT

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history, was confirmed by the Senate in a 53-47 vote Thursday.

She got three Republican votes, marking a bipartisan victory for President Joe Biden and his high court nominee.

Mar 23, 2022, 5:45 PM EDT

Judge tears up as Booker invokes ancestors

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called out Republicans for accusing Jackson of being soft on sentencing in child porn cases, noting that Jackson wasn't questioned in this way when she was appointed last year to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Booker said to Jackson, "You were put on a court, that I'm told, is considered like the second most powerful court in our land. And you were passed with bipartisan support. Nobody brought it up then. Did they not do their homework?"

Sen. Cory Booker speaks during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2022.
Alex Brandon/AP

The Republicans' "allegations appear meritless to the point of demagoguery," Booker said.

Booker, overcome with emotion, said to Jackson when he looks at her he sees his mom and cousins, noting one of his cousins was sitting behind her at the hearing. "She had to have your back. I see my ancestors and yours," he said.

Jackson wiped away tears as Booker spoke.

PHOTO: While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's eyes fill with tears during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, on March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's eyes fill with tears during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, on March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

While listening to Sen. Cory Booker speak, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wipes tears from her eyes during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Booker stressed, "Nobody is going to steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy."

He later added: "God has got you."

Mar 23, 2022, 5:23 PM EDT

Graham says 'stay tuned' on his support for Jackson

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supported Jackson's confirmation to the D.C. Circuit but has been combative at times during questioning, said to "stay tuned" about whether he would support her this time around.

"The difference between the two jobs is she can make policy with this job -- she can change the law. The D.C. Circuit, she's sort of bound by what the Supreme Court [has] done. So just say tuned," he said.

Graham continued his attacks on Jackson on Wednesday, accusing her of trying to "run out the clock."

"I like Judge Jackson. I don't think she's sympathetic as a person to child pornography, but I think her sentencing regime doesn't create deterrence," he said.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who also supported Jackson's confirmation to the D.C. Circuit, told ABC News Wednesday that she is keeping an open mind.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Mar 23, 2022, 4:52 PM EDT

Judge says 'I'll stand on my answer' on child porn sentencing

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., dove back into the child porn sentencing line of questioning on Wednesday.

Jackson told Hawley, "I am fully aware of the seriousness of this offense and also my obligation to take into account all of the various aspects of the crime, as Congress has required me to do. And I made a determination seriously in each case."

Hawley asked the judge, "Why didn't you apply the enhancements as they were asked for?"

Sen. Josh Hawley questions Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Jackson responded, "Senator, I've answered this question many times from many senators who have asked me, so I'll stand on what I've already said."

Hawley continued to press her, saying, "But your answer is what? Refresh my memory."

Jackson stood her ground, replying, "Senator, I've answered this question. I've explained how the guidelines work and I'll stand on my answer."

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., didn't press Jackson on child porn sentencing. Instead he asked Jackson if she thought law schools were becoming too homogenous -- too "liberal or illiberal" with conservatives voices getting "canceled" -- and asked if it would be better to have a diverse set of voices from "across the political spectrum,” to which Jackson agreed.

Sen. Ben Sasse questions Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Then, he offered her a compliment.

“You're going to be a hero. You are already a hero to lots and lots of kids," he said.

"I suspect you are an advocate for vigorous and robust debate. I don't see how you might be constrained against saying that because of future cases. I’m gonna just assume we are mostly aligned on this," he said.

“I think that is a fair assumption,” she replied.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Mar 23, 2022, 4:19 PM EDT

In praising Judge Motley, Jackson sends message on being a 'trailblazer'

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., raising the fact that Judge Jackson shares a birthday with Judge Constance Baker Motley, the nation’s first Black woman to serve as a federal judge, asked Jackson to tell women and girls watching the hearings why Jackson said in her opening she stands on the shoulders of Motley and so many others.

"I so admired the fact that she was the first," Jackson said. “It's not necessarily easy to be the first, but it is an opportunity to show other people what is possible."

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson responds to a question from Sen. Lindsey Graham, as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2022, during her confirmation hearing.
Susan Walsh/AP

"When you're the first it means no one has ever done it before like you -- and there may be hundreds, thousands of people who might have wanted that opportunity and thought, 'I can't do that because there's no one there like me,'" Jackson continued.

"Being a trailblazer, whether it's Judge Motley or Justice Marshall or Justice O'Connor, being a trailblazer is really inspiring, I think," she added. "And I was always moved by Judge Motley's experience and think it may even be part of why I moved in this direction."

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