Nominee pros and cons
Supreme Court hearings
Regarding “Editorial: With respect, Republicans got nothing on Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson,” (March 22): The editorial concerning the confirmation hearing of Judge Jackson makes me shake my head at the astonishing disconnect between criticism of Republican versus Democratic senators’ actions. The editorial board believes Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz demeaned the confirmation process by the tone and types of questions they have put to the nominee.
When you look at the vilification and vicious attacks that happened in the Robert Bork and Brett Kavanaugh hearings by Democratic senators, not to mention the attacks on Justice Amy Coney Barrett for her faith and adoption of a child of color during her confirmation, this hearing is a model of decorum.
Terry Rountree, Katy
I used to write often to the Chronicle to draw attention to the preposterously unconcealed bias and blatant hypocrisy I felt was put out by this paper’s editorial staff every day. I gave up, admitting the axiom of beating my head against a wall. But your editorial describing the questioning of our two senators as “bad-faith gamesmanship” that “demeans the process” is so patently duplicitous that I could not help myself. “The solemnity of vetting a justice” is important to this board only when a Democrat nominee is the subject.
Raymond Ruiz, Manvel
Regarding “Takeaways: Supreme Court hearings a venue for culture wars,” (March 23): In an attempt to don a folksy cloak to create cover for a totally inappropriate (and possibly illegal) question of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s religiousness, Sen. Lindsey Graham revealed much more about himself than the potential Supreme Court justice. Not only did he jokingly admit he’s just a “Christmas-and-Easter Christian,” but he showed little of the behavior many feel to be Christian in nature. Truthfulness in intent, thoughtfulness in demeanor, consideration in approach and kindness in response are all tenets of the second commandment to “love thy neighbor.” Graham must have missed all the Vacation Bible School, Sunday school and Sabbath sermons that touched on that theme.
And when he was frustrated by the candidate's measured responses, he resorted to partisan pontificating and huffy retreat. Maybe in his free time he could find his Bible and review 1 Corinthians 13:11 — “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Carol Godell, Spring
Once again Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have embarrassed the state by their senseless attacks on Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. For the life of me I can’t understand what these two think they will accomplish with such antics. I understand they are “playing to their base” but good grief do they understand how foolish and petty they appear? Perhaps, rather than using their time to insult and belittle the nominee, they might benefit from listening to her answers. Sammye Larson, Houston
Correction: Wednesday’s editorial about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson misspelled the name of her daughter Talia Jackson.