President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee is receiving criticism over an exchange during her confirmation hearing that featured a question about the definition of the word “woman.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) asked Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Tuesday, “Can you provide a definition for the word ‘woman’?”
“Can I provide a definition?” Jackson asked.
When Blackburn confirmed that was her question, Jackson said, “I can’t.”
“You can’t?” the senator asked.
Jackson explained, “Not in this context I’m not a biologist.”
Watch the video below:
Sen. Marsha Blackburn: "Can you provide a definition for the word woman?"
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 23, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: "I can't. Not in this context. I'm not a biologist." pic.twitter.com/BK1ENBdYcG
The Tennessee senator then asked, “So, you believe the meaning of the word ‘woman’ is so unclear and controversial that you can’t give me a definition?”
“Senator, in my work as a judge, what I do is I address disputes. If there’s a dispute about a definition, people make arguments, and I look at the law and I decide,” Jackson responded.
Blackburn fired back, “The fact that you can’t give me a straight answer about something as fundamental as what a woman is underscores the dangers of the kind of progressive education that we are hearing about.”
The exchange drew harsh criticism:
It’s hard to imagine people more contemptible. Again, here’s the Progressive assertion that the world is only perceptible through (a completely politicized) scientific authority. It’s no wonder that they needed to take over the institutions in order to pull this off. https://t.co/fwxl6uT7II
— David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense (@davereaboi) March 23, 2022
What a world. The Supreme Court nominee can’t or won’t offer a definition of “woman.” https://t.co/SplI2Wo9Ph
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 23, 2022
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. https://t.co/P9Erk9xO0y
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 23, 2022
The “what is a woman” movement has begun.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 23, 2022
As I’ve said for years, this is the question that single-handedly destroys gender ideology. One question knocks the whole house of cards down. https://t.co/kaBOQLNYzh
Judge Jackson sat in judgment of thousands of people in court. In each of these cases, judges are required to make credibility determinations. If a witness answered a question in this flippant/fake way, they’d be risking an admonition or even warning of contempt of court/ https://t.co/rLvYpmLIkX
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) March 23, 2022
She wants to interpret the constitution but can’t even tell you what a woman is. This is a scary direction we are headed https://t.co/ujBUPfCUcD
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) March 23, 2022
During the hearing, Blackburn referenced transgender swimmer Lia Thomas’ first place finish in the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championship 500 yard freestyle event last week. She also asked Jackson what message she believes Thomas’ victory sends.
“I’m not sure what message that sends,” Jackson said. “If you’re asking me about the legal issues related to it, those are topics that are being hotly discussed.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) ripped into the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete in the event, as IJR reported.
“By allowing men to compete in women’s sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud,” he wrote in a tweet.
He added, “In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Sarasota’s Emma Weyant as the best women’s swimmer in the 500y freestyle.”