Biden's Supreme Court Candidate Defends Sentences Against Child Pornography

President Joe Biden's candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court, Black Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, strongly defended herself Tuesday against those questioning her sentences in child pornography cases, when questioned by senators.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she responded to attacks by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who accuses her of having, as a judge, handed down substandard sentences in several cases of child pornography.

These cases are some “of the most difficult,” he added, saying that the legal framework was vague, leading to large disparities in penalties. But he assured that he has always ensured that “the voices of minors were represented” in his sentences.

Nominated by Biden, Judge Jackson, 51, needs the green light of the Senate to become the first black woman in the US high court. Except for surprise, he will get enough votes during a plenary vote in early April to replace progressive Stephen Breyer.

According to a Politico-Morning poll, 47% of Americans want it confirmed and only 19% oppose it. In any case, it will not change the balance within the temple of American law, where conservatives will retain a majority of six out of nine.

- A brother policeman -

For all these reasons, the Republicans have no intention of trying too hard to bring down their candidacy. But, with only seven months to go before the mid-term elections, they are using Judge Jackson's hearings to bring out their campaign issues, starting with the rise in crime they attribute to the weakness of the Democratic government.

Jackson was attacked Monday for defending Guantanamo detainees or criminals when she was a public defender in Washington from 2005 to 2007.

She for her part recalled on Tuesday, in a calm voice, that she did not choose her clients and “did not approve” their actions. But in the United States, any defendant has the right to a lawyer. She insisted: “This is what makes our greatness” and this experience was “beneficial” to her work as a federal judge starting in 2013.

Judge Jackson stressed that she took great care to explain to them “the damage they caused” so that they could assume their responsibilities and begin their reintegration work.

The Democratic senators came to her defense and stressed that the judge had been supported by police unions.

“As someone who has had family members in the line of fire, I care deeply about public safety,” she stressed, recalling that her brother and two of her uncles are or were police officers.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was concerned that several “leftist associations” would support his candidacy and asked if he was a “militant.”

“No,” she replied, stressing that she does not allow her “personal views and preferences” to influence decision-making.

On political issues, according to custom, she was evasive.

He refused to comment on the calls, made by several congressmen and leftist associations, to create new positions on the Supreme Court in order to diminish the influence of conservative magistrates. “In my opinion, judges should not talk about politics,” he concluded.

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