A former Bush-appointed judge praises Ketanji Brown Jackson for upholding the rule of law, which is ‘literally under attack’ in Ukraine

• A retired federal judge nominated by George W. Bush praised Decide Ketanji Brown Jackson at her confirmation hearings.

• Thomas B. Griffith lauded Jackson for upholding the rule of regulation, which he stated is “less than attack” in Ukraine.

• He added that there “should really be absolutely nothing unusual” about GOP-appointed judges supporting Jackson.

A former federal decide who was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush expressed potent help on Monday for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court docket.

Retired Judge Thomas B. Griffith, who served on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, was just one of two authorized scholars who introduced Jackson through her initially working day of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Griffith also sits on President Joe Biden’s bipartisan commission to analyze reforms to the Supreme Courtroom, and his endorsement of Jackson arrived last thirty day period following President Joe Biden’s announcement of her nomination.

In his remarks, Griffith praised Jackson as an “independent jurist who adjudicates dependent on the facts and the regulation, and not as a partisan.”

He also highlighted her motivation to the rule of legislation, and pointed to Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine as an illustration of how it is threatened in numerous international locations about the planet.

“The rule of regulation is a fragile chance in the very best of situations,” Griffith claimed. “Now, it is virtually under attack in Ukraine and is threatened all over the entire world, and in our very own state, by autocrats and their sympathizers, who give lip company to the rule of regulation but then perform to undermine it every single convert.”

Jackson’s “rule is very simple,” Griffith ongoing. “Stick to the regulation.”

The previous judge added how some observers could possibly assume it is really “noteworthy” that a Republican-appointed judge would “enthusiastically” guidance a Democratic president’s nominee to the large court docket.

Tale carries on

This “response is a measure of the hazardous hyperpartisanship that has seeped into every single nook and cranny of our nation’s existence and against which the Framers of the Structure warned us,” he reported.

Griffith pointed out prior cases in which Supreme Courtroom nominees have sailed by their affirmation hearings with broad, bipartisan assistance. Examples involve the late Supreme Courtroom Justice Antonin Scalia, who was verified by a vote of 98- in 1986, and late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, verified by a vote of 96-3 in 1993.

“There should really be absolutely nothing strange about my assist for a very capable nominee who has demonstrated by her life’s operate her dedication to the rule of legislation and an impartial judiciary,” Griffith said.

Aside from Griffith, Jackson has obtained endorsements from many conservative figures, together with retired federal choose J. Michael Luttig, a George H.W. Bush appointee, and distinguished Republican law firm William Burck.

Griffith’s praise arrived right after Republicans and Democrats on the committee gave their opening statements on the to start with working day of Jackson’s affirmation hearings. The senators will start out questioning Jackson on Tuesday.

Both get-togethers on Monday congratulated Jackson on her nomination, but it’s unclear no matter if any GOP users will throw their assistance at the rear of her. If verified, Jackson would grow to be the 1st at any time Black girl on the Supreme Court docket.

Study the initial post on Small business Insider