Kamala Harris to preside in Senate for historic Ketanji Brown Jackson vote

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to preside Thursday over the ultimate vote within the Senate to substantiate Decide Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court docket, an advisor mentioned, that means the primary Black lady elected to nationwide workplace will maintain the gavel as the primary Black feminine justice is elevated onto the nation’s highest courtroom.

Harris has the constitutional proper to guide the Senate however has solely held the gavel to interrupt 50-50 ties or to mark symbolic events.

Harris mentioned on Friday in an interview on MSNBC that she “skilled nice pleasure” as Jackson “minimize by means of political gamesmanship” in her affirmation hearings. Harris, a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, constructed her political profession as a lawyer, serving as San Francisco’s district lawyer and California’s lawyer common earlier than she was elected to the Senate in 2016.

She and Jackson have spoken publicly about their admiration for Constance Baker Motley, the primary Black lady to function a federal choose, and different folks of colour who had been authorized pioneers.

Although Harris might have damaged a tie within the evenly divided Senate, she is not going to must. Brown has help of at the very least three Republican senators and is predicted to win all 50 senators who align with Democrats.