Tillis says he won't support Biden Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

Tillis calls Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson "well qualified" and he expects her to secure the votes needed to get onto the U.S. Supreme Court, but he says he'll vote against her appointment.

Posted 4:57 p.m. Mar 30, 2022 — Updated 9:08 p.m. Mar 30, 2022

Bryan Anderson

, WRAL state government reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis on Wednesday said he thought Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was “well qualified” and likely to get the votes needed for her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, but said he would vote against her nomination.

Tillis, who also opposed Jackson’s nomination for U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit last year, said he had concerns about the judicial views of President Joe Biden’s Supreme pick for the high court.

“Based on her record, I still hold my initial concerns that she may legislate from the bench instead of consistently following the Constitution as written,” Tillis said in a statement.

During her confirmation hearings last week, Jackson said she has heard politically-charged cases during her tenure and would strive to be an impartial justice.

“I am committed to serving as an even-handed Supreme Court justice if I’m confirmed by this body,” Jackson said. “I have a record over the past decade that’s precisely how I’ve treated all of my cases. … My record demonstrates my impartiality.”

Tillis said he expects Jackson to be confirmed in the coming weeks and said he wishes “her and her wonderful family all the best in her continued public service to our great nation.”

Tillis’ North Carolina colleague, Sen. Richard Burr, also voted against Jackson’s D.C. Circuit nomination last year.

Burr met with Jackson privately this week. He has previously expressed concern about expanding the size of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In response to questions from GOP senators last week, Jackson declined to wade into the issue.

Burr’s office declined to say whether the senator would vote for or against Jackson’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination.

Jackson is on track to become the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court. On Wednesday, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she’d support Jackson’s nomination, all but assuring a narrow bipartisan vote in a chamber that is evenly split 50-50 along party lines.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski supported Brown’s nomination last year but haven’t yet said how they’ll vote this time.

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