Sen. Padilla’s flight troubles could delay Senate’s confirmation of Jackson to high court

Sen. Alex Padilla’s flight troubles may delay the Senate’s timeline for confirming Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s Supreme Court docket nominee.

Because the Senate Judiciary Committee gaveled in Monday morning to advance Jackson’s nomination, the California Democrat was notably absent. With the panel evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, Padilla’s vote is important.

“As a result of a passenger medical emergency, Sen. Padilla’s flight was turned again and returned to LAX, delaying his arrival to Washington,” a Padilla spokesperson mentioned. “He boarded the primary accessible flight this morning and can arrive this afternoon.”

In keeping with flight trackers, flights from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport this morning are as a result of arrive in Washington round 4 p.m., although it wasn’t instantly clear whether or not Padilla was flying to Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport or to Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport. Reagan is simply 5 miles from the Capitol, however Dulles is about 40 miles away.

A committee spokesperson mentioned the panel will await Padilla’s arrival to vote. The committee adjourned Monday afternoon with plans to return later within the day with the senator.

The evenly cut up committee is anticipated to impasse alongside partisan traces on a vote to advance Jackson. An 11-11 vote would add one other layer to the method to raise Jackson to the excessive court docket, however probably received’t cease her ascension to develop into the primary Black feminine justice.

The vote will comply with hours of statements from the panel’s 22 members.

Democrats praised Jackson’s {qualifications} and expertise, whereas Republicans defined their opposition.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Unwell.), the committee chairman, referred to as Monday’s vote a “historic second for this committee and for America.”

That is the primary time the panel has thought-about a Black girl for a seat on the Supreme Court docket. Republicans mentioned they could have nominated Choose Janice Rogers Brown in 2005, however Democrats voiced opposition if she had been tapped for the excessive court docket.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who voted to raise Jackson to the D.C. Circuit lower than a yr in the past however opposes her nomination to the Supreme Court docket, mentioned “she wouldn’t have been earlier than this committee” if Republicans had been accountable for the Senate.

A impasse Monday could be the primary time the judiciary panel has cut up on a Supreme Court docket nominee in additional than three many years. In September 1991, when Biden chaired the committee, it voted 7-7 to ship Clarence Thomas’ nomination to the ground with a positive advice. That movement failed, however the committee voted 13-1 to ship the nomination to the ground with out advice, and Thomas was confirmed the next month, 52-48.

If the committee vote is a tie, Senate Majority Chief Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) should file a discharge movement to position Jackson on the manager calendar, a transfer that permits the chamber to take up the nomination the next day. Regardless of Padilla’s delayed arrival, that movement is anticipated to happen later Monday.

An an identical course of performed out throughout the nominations of Justice Division officers Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, in addition to different judicial nominees who deadlocked in committee and are nonetheless awaiting affirmation.

The discharge course of requires as much as 4 hours of debate, equally divided between events, and a simple-majority roll name vote.

As quickly as Tuesday, Schumer is anticipated to file cloture on Jackson’s nomination, kickstarting as much as 30 hours of debate earlier than two further simple-majority votes: one to finish debate and the opposite to substantiate Jackson as retiring Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s successor, probably earlier than the top of the week.

Democrats seem united in assist of Jackson, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has mentioned she is going to vote to substantiate her, assuring the ultimate tally might be bipartisan.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), two of the Republicans probably to interrupt ranks and be a part of Collins, haven’t mentioned how they plan to vote.