Thursday, Mar. 31, 2022
Did Joe Biden oppose the first Black woman nominated for the Supreme Court?
The judge in question, Janice Rogers Brown, was never nominated for the Supreme Court. George W. Bush was considering her as a replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor, but chose Samuel Alito instead.
Bush nominated Brown for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Democrats, including then-Sen. Joe Biden, opposed many of the Republican president's court nominations. Brown's nomination was filibustered by Democrats for two years until a vote ended the filibuster, resulting in Brown's confirmation.
Biden did suggest he would oppose Brown for the Supreme Court if she was nominated for that position.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Inquiries Journal Cases and Controversies: George W. Bush's Appeals Court Nominations
- NBC News Senate ends 2-year filibuster of judicial nominee
- Washington Post Possible Nominees to the Supreme Court
- CBS Face the Nation: Sunday, July 3, 2005
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