Baldwin an Enthusiastic Yes, Johnson a Silent No as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Is Confirmed to the US Supreme Court

President Joe Biden holds hands with Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as they watch the Senate vote on her confirmation from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

By Pat Kreitlow

April 7, 2022

Wisconsin’s Republican senator had previously voted for Judge Jackson’s nomination to a federal judgeship.

As expected, Wisconsin’s two US senators differed Thursday when the final vote was taken on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black woman elevated to justice on the US Supreme Court.

Democrat Tammy Baldwin, first in the alphabetical roll call, gave an enthusiastic “aye,” while Republican Ron Johnson could not be heard on TV microphones as he voted “no.”

Sen. Tammy Baldwin gave an enthusiastic “aye” when the final vote was taken on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black woman elevated to justice on the US Supreme Court, while Sen. Ron Johnson could not be heard on TV microphones as he voted “no.” pic.twitter.com/SX34kqMozP
— UpNorthNews (@UpNorthNewsWI) April 7, 2022

Three Republican senators joined all 50 Democrats in supporting Judge Jackson. The bipartisan vote is a rebuke of right-wing attempts to portray her as something other than highly qualified to serve on the nation’s highest court, especially since more than two-dozen of the Republicans opposing her—including Johnson—had previously voted to approve her nomination to serve on the federal bench in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Jackson will replace Justice Stephen Breyer when he retires this summer at the end of the court’s current session.

Jackson-Supreme Court Similarities — The Supreme Court’s newest member, Ketanji Brown Jackson, has much in common with her future colleagues. (AP Graphic)

Author

Pat Kreitlow

The Founding Editor of UpNorthNews, Pat was a familiar presence on radio and TV stations in western Wisconsin before serving in the state Legislature. After a brief stint living in the Caribbean, Pat and wife returned to Chippewa Falls to be closer to their growing group of grandchildren. He now serves as UNN's chief political correspondent and host of UpNorthNews Radio, airing weekday mornings 6 a.m.-8 a.m on the Civic Media radio network and the UpNorthNews Facebook page.

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