WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) announced Monday that he plans to vote in favor of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as a Supreme Court justice.
"After reviewing Judge Jackson's record and testimony, I have concluded that she is a well-qualified jurist and a person of honor," Romney said in a statement. "While I do not expect to agree with every decision she may make on the Court, I believe that she more than meets the standard of excellence and integrity."
President Joe Biden nominated Jackson in February to fill the seat that will be vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring at the end of the term.
"I congratulate Judge Jackson on her expected confirmation and look forward to her continued service to our nation," Romney's statement said.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is another Republican who has said she will support Jackson.
READ: Senate Judiciary deadlocks on Judge Jackson's Supreme Court nomination
Romney's fellow Utahn in the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee, announced Monday that he will vote against Jackson's confirmation.
They told us to look at judicial philosophy, but Judge Jackson said she doesn’t have one. They leaned on her record, but what we have of her record is troubling. They said to look at her answers, but she didn't answer basic questions & endorsed judicial activism. I will vote no. pic.twitter.com/iVmZlUSbbr
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 4, 2022
Republicans have said Jackson has a history of being soft on crime and lenient toward criminal offenders in their sentencing, particularly those involving child pornography cases.
They have also focused on Jackson not answering the question when asked to define what a woman is during her confirmation hearing in March.
On the other hand, Democrats have talked about what a historic moment this vote is for the U.S., with Senator Amy Klobuchar saying, the judge "is truly an inspiration to young Black girls."
If confirmed, Jackson will become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
Her confirmation would also mark for the first time in history that four women would sit together on the nine-member court.
I intend to vote in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. My statement: pic.twitter.com/uGaxx8sJn5
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) April 4, 2022
Romney has a history of voting across party lines during his first term as a U.S. Senator — perhaps most notably, voting to convict former President Donald Trump in both of the ex-commander-in-chief's impeachment trials.
