Cory Booker: Senate on 'precipice of shattering another ceiling' with Jackson SCOTUS hearings

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson are off to a rip-roaring start, having begun with opening remarks from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
After some focus on the "spectacle" of the hearings for Justice Brett Kavanaugh and what Republicans expect will be criticism of their questioning this time around, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) opted to take a lighthearted and celebratory approach toward the milestone moment Jackson represents.
"This is not a normal day for America," Booker said. "We have never had this moment before. And I just want to talk about the joy. I know tomorrow and in the coming hearings we're going to have tough, hard questions but please, let me just acknowledge the fact that this is not normal." If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It's never happened before," Booker continued. "We are on the precipice of shattering another ceiling. ... I just feel this sense of overwhelming joy as I see you sitting there."
Booker also told the story of how Jackson's daughter Leila once wrote former President Barack Obama asking him to nominate her mother to the Supreme Court.
With any luck, the senator continued, Leila's letter would inspire generations of children, "no matter who their parents are," to write to the White House.
"We're gonna see a new generation of children talking about their mamas," he said, "and daring to write to the president of the United States of America that 'my mom should be on the Supreme Court.'"
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"I want to tell your daughter right now that that dream of hers is so close to being a reality."
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
How medical imposters are ruining health studies
Under the Radar Automated bots and ‘lying’ individuals ‘threaten’ patient safety and integrity of research
-
‘How can I know these words originated in their heart and not some data center in northern Virginia?’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can Trump deliver a farmer bailout in time?
Today's Big Question Planting decisions and food prices hang in the balance
-
Bolivia elects centrist over far-right presidential rival
Speed Read Relative political unknown Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, was elected president
-
Madagascar president in hiding, refuses to resign
Speed Read Andry Rajoelina fled the country amid Gen Z protests and unrest
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime minister
In the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Israel, Hamas agree to first step of Trump peace plan
Speed Read Israel’s military pulls back in Gaza amid prisoner exchange
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure