Thread by @girlsreallyrule

Today's SCOTUS DAY 1 will start with opening statements by Senators, an introduction of Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson from Conservative Appeals Court Judge Thomas Griffith and University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Lisa Fairfax.

I will live-tweet the event in this thread. 1/

This WaPo graphic, which compares the experience levels of all sitting SCOTUS members to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson pretty much says it all - but, sadly it will not keep the GOP from false attacks that a white man (and sometimes white woman) would never get. 2/

Here is an impressive view from the seat of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (via @frankthorp) and her perspective for her confirmation hearings to the US Supreme Court this week. 3/

I'm watching Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's face while @SenatorDurbin makes his opening remarks and smiling so big at the idea of her taking in this moment, and really feeling where her brilliance and hard work has gotten her. 4/

Durbin: "[SCOTUS] has a long and storied history and has been filled by many superb justices whose contributions to the rule of law have stood the test of time. But, the reality is that the Court's members, in one respect, have never really reflected the nation they serve." 5/

Sen. Dick Durbin to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: "Your willingness to brave this process will give inspiration to millions of Americans who see themselves in you." 6/

Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin: "We've heard claims that you're 'soft on crime'; These baseless charges are unfair...They fly in the face of pledges my colleagues made that they would approach your nomination with civility and respect." 7/

Durbin: "There may be some who claim, without a shred of evidence, that you'll be a rubber stamp for this president. For these would-be critics, I have four words: Look at the record." 8/

Sen. Dick Durbin quotes Abraham Lincoln, says Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a “living witness to the fact that, in America, all is possible.” 8/

Here is Republican Ranking Member Chuck Grassley's full opening statement. He says, "We won't try to turn this into a spectacle based on alleged process fouls" and then throws a low blow by accusing Democrats of over-interrupting him during Kavanaugh. 9/ judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

For those of you, like myself, who just got jolted off of coverage because cable news does not think this historic moment is important enough, you can watch the whole hearing, from the beginning, here: 10/ c-span.org/video/?518341-…

.@SenatorLeahy: “Judge Jackson, with your presence here today, you are writing a new page in the history of America. A good page.” 11/

Sen. Leahy: "Let's be honest. [Judge Jackson is] a fair and impartial jurist with fidelity to the law above all else. That's what Americans want to see in a Supreme Court Justice." 12/

Here comes @LindseyGrahamSC and make note: Judge Jackson’s meeting with Graham abut her nomination concluded after only 15 minutes and Graham publicly campaigned for Biden to select federal Judge J. Michelle Childs, a fellow South Carolinian, over Jackson. 13/

"Count me in on making the Court look more diverse...I want the Court to play a particular role in America...make it look more like the country but also make it operate in the confines of the Constitution." Then he bitches about a lack of media coverage for himself. 13/

Graham: "We're off to a good start, Senator Grassley couldn't get first word out of his mouth before [Democrats] shut down the place...most of us couldn't go back to our offices during Kavanaugh without getting spit on, hope that doesn't happen to y'all." 14/

Graham is complaining about other nominees of color, presented on their sides and how their lives were ruined over the process and closes with "very fair game." Then he brings up Michelle Childs from SC again and blames Soros and the left for her not getting picked. 15/

Graham accuses Dems of spending a lot of dark money to "put [Judge Jackson] in this chair." He demands her Amicus briefs and to know why and how "the most liberal people under Arabella" came to "her aid." He is complaining about partisanship and then makes it partisan. /16

Graham continues to make this all about Kavanaugh: "You will not be vilified. You will not be attacked for your religious views. You will not be accused of something that you could not defend yourself against until it was too late." 17/

“We’re all racist if we ask hard questions — it’s not gonna fly with us. We’re used to it by now, at least I am. So it’s not gonna matter a bit.”- Graham with the next "what the hell did he just say?" moment 18/

Lindsey Graham to Ketanji Brown Jackson: "The media will be your biggest cheerleader, they are in your camp." 19/

Sen. Dianne Feinstein: "The Supreme Court is not a political institution. Rather, the court stands above politics and above partisanship." 20/

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse speaks at the Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearing: "The present court is the court that dark money built." 21/

For more background on his statement, read this: shero.substack.com/p/using-dark-m…

Then Mike Lee said some things he thought to be brilliant. 22/

Nothing Mike Lee said was brilliant or even particularly interesting or on point. 23/