OPINION:
The political left is celebrating the dubious ascendancy to the Supreme Court of a liar and a dyed-in-the-wool leftist. During her confirmation hearings, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson fashioned her responses (and non-responses) not in accordance with the law and common sense, but to appeal to leftists and her fringe-group supporters.
Yet all of that was ignored because she was an affirmative-action hire, which is what President Biden promised during a presidential debate. He said the appointment was overdue and Black women needed representation on the court. He did not mention the word qualified, but rather suggested the appointment was something owed. Gender and race were the only standards he referenced.
This all played out in Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearings before the peoples’ representatives, whose duty it was to judge Judge Jackson’s fitness for the position. However, a majority of them chose to ignore the obvious and violate their oath of office. They all voted “yes” and the damage was done.
Culturally and socially, affirmative action is a stigma, and it now appears headed for hearing before the justices. If the case is presented after Judge Jackson takes her seat, it will be interesting to see if she recuses herself, having been a recent beneficiary of the practice.
HESSIE L. HARRIS
Silver Spring, Maryland
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