North Carolina Senator Richard Burr introduced on Thursday that he won't be voting to verify Supreme Court docket Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.

In a brand new assertion, the retiring senator stated that he had met privately with Jackson earlier this week to debate her judicial philosophy and her potential on the Supreme Court docket. Nevertheless, Burr stated he believed that her solutions to his questions and the questions of different senators have been unsatisfactory. It was beforehand speculated that he was planning to verify Jackson.

"Whereas she is undoubtedly extremely certified, knowledgable, and skilled, primarily based on our dialogue, I can not help Choose Jackson's nomination when it comes earlier than the Senate," Burr wrote.

Burr's main purpose for not confirming Jackson to the Supreme Court docket echoes the reason given by Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell. In his assertion, Burr defined that he didn't really feel assured that the decide would be capable to condemn the method of court-packing—rising the variety of justices on the Supreme Court docket in an try to vary its make-up for partisan means.

When she was requested about her opinions on court-packing throughout her affirmation hearings, Jackson instructed it to be a political difficulty, which she needed to steer clear of to attain impartiality.

Richard Burr on Phone
North Carolina Senator Richard Burr introduced that he won't vote in favor of Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court docket nomination. Above, Burr talks on the cellphone as he heads to the U.S. Capitol on February 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Photograph by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs

Nevertheless, Burr has a contradicting view. He defined in his assertion that refusing to sentence court-packing permits the Supreme Court docket to turn out to be politicized.

"Court docket packing is a clear energy seize," wrote Burr, "one that may without end compromise the integrity, impartiality, and independence of the Supreme Court docket. Justice [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg and Justice [Stephen] Breyer each rejected courtroom packing and the following justice who joins the Court docket ought to do the identical."

Burr's determination to not help Jackson could possibly be stunning for some, as he typically makes party-defying votes. Burr was one of many few Republican senators that voted to convict former President Donald Trump throughout his second impeachment trial.

There are nonetheless some key Republicans that might defy their get together and vote to verify Jackson. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski beforehand voted to verify Jackson to the D.C. Circuit Court docket of Appeals, whereas Utah Senator Mitt Romneycondemned fellow Republicans for his or her conduct in the course of the decide's affirmation hearings.

Missouri Senator Roy Blunt beforehand expressed enthusiasm over voting for the primary Black feminine Supreme Court docket Justice, and Ohio Senator Rob Portman regularly aligns with the views of President Joe Biden regardless of being a Republican.

Replace 03/31/22, 3:45 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with further info.

Replace 03/31/22, 2:40 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with further info.