Fact check: GOP mischaracterizes Jackson on critical race theory, crime views

Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn mischaracterized Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson‘s judicial views as extremist and soft on crime, claiming she called for critical race theory to be a mandatory consideration in federal sentencing and sought to release all criminals during the pandemic. Democrats hope to confirm Jackson by April 8, when they leave Washington for a two-week spring recess.Confirmation 101 | Day 1 recap of opening statements A look at some of the claims and reality: BLACKBURN: “You have made clear that you believe judges must consider critical race theory when deciding how to sentence criminal defendants.” — remarks Monday. “Sentencing is just plain interesting on an intellectual level, in part because it melds together myriad types of law — criminal law, of course, but also administrative law, constitutional law, critical race theory, negotiations, and to some extent, even contracts,” Jackson said in her speech. “The obvious increased risk of harm that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to individuals who have been detained in the District’s correctional facilities reasonably suggests that each and every criminal defendant who is currently in D.C. custody — and who thus cannot take independent measures to control their own hygiene and distance themselves from others — should be released,” Jackson said in her ruling.