South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is dealing with backlash after questioning Supreme Court docket nominee, Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson, on her spiritual beliefs in the course of the second day of her affirmation hearings.

Graham started his questioning of Jackson on Tuesday by asking the decide what her religion is, as he aired grievances concerning the remedy of Amy Coney Barrett and different conservative justices.

"May you pretty decide a Catholic?" Graham requested after Jackson described herself as a non-denominational Protestant. He then went on to ask the decide about how essential her religion was to her and to price her faithfulness by way of faith on a scale of 1 to 10.

"I'm reluctant to speak about my religion on this means," Jackson replied, explaining that she needs the general public to be assured in her skill to separate her private beliefs from her choices as a decide.

Jackson additionally reminded Graham: "As you realize there isn't a spiritual take a look at within the Structure."

The senator's questions got here simply at some point after he instructed Jackson that she would not be vilified or attacked for her spiritual views. On Tuesday, Graham asserted there was a double normal the place conservative nominees are handled as "weirdos" when describing their household and religion whereas Democrats should not.

The senator's line of questioning about Jackson's spiritual views drew criticism on social media.

"Why is Lindsey Graham grilling Choose Jackson about her faith?" Jon Cooper, a outstanding Barack Obama fundraiser and former Nationwide Finance Chair of Draft Biden 2016, tweeted Tuesday. "He's disgusting."

"Asking a job applicant their faith is unconstitutional," one Twitter person wrote. "That is how Sen. Graham begins Choose Brown Jackson's interview."

Graham Slammed Questioning KBJ on Religion
Sen. Lindsey Graham as seen in the course of the Senate Judiciary Committee affirmation listening to for U.S. Supreme Court docket nominee Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson, within the Hart Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill March 21, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Graham was criticized on-line after questioning Jackson's spiritual beliefs in the course of the second day of her affirmation hearings. Drew Angerer/GETTY IMAGES

"Extraordinarily bizarre and uncomfortable as Lindsey Graham asks Choose Jackson what her faith is, how typically she goes to church, if she might pretty decide a Catholic, and so on. That is absurd. As Jackson says, there is no spiritual take a look at within the Structure," legal professional Madiba Ok. Dennie tweeted.

Joe Madison, a Sirius XM radio host, wrote on Twitter: "Would not Lindsey Graham have a legislation diploma? Why is he asking unrelated questions on her religion??"

Republicans spent a good period of time throughout Jackson's first day of hearings airing their complaints concerning the Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh affirmation course of—each of whom had been appointed by Donald Trump and finally confirmed to the Supreme Court docket.

Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz referred to as Kavanaugh's hearings "one of many lowest moments" within the committee's historical past on Monday and instructed Jackson nobody was going to ask her if she "likes beer."

Graham himself mentioned Monday that Jackson's affirmation course of "will not be a circus."

Replace 03/22/22, 12:00 p.m. ET: This story was up to date with extra info and background.