Sen. Collins will back Supreme Court pick Jackson, giving her likely confirmation GOP support

Republican Sen. Susan Collins said she will vote for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to join the U.S. Supreme Court, giving bipartisan support for President Joe Biden’s first nominee to the high court.

Jackson is now all but guaranteed to become the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

“After reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s extensive record, watching much of her hearing testimony, and meeting with her twice in person, I have concluded that she possesses the experience, qualifications, and integrity to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court,” Collins said in a statement Wednesday.

“I will, therefore, vote to confirm her to this position,” Collins said.

After emerging from a grueling week of confirmation hearings with few scars, the 51-year-old federal judge was expected to be confirmed even if no Republicans in the evenly-split Senate voted for her.

But Collins’ announcement, coupled with the expected unanimous support from Senate Democrats, likely eliminates the need for Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the tie-breaking vote.

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