The Follow-Up Questions (that weren’t asked)

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Source: Yahoo! News

On the second day of questions for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court Justice Nominee Katanji Brown Jackson, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R TN) asked Ms Jackson if she could define, “woman”. Judge Jackson’s answer was, “No, Senator; I’m not a biologist.”

While many on both sides of the aisle have expressed shock at a) the question that was actually asked and b) the lack of a coherent response to such a simple question, I offer two follow-up questions that beg the question. Two follow-up questions that weren’t asked, but should have been.

1. “So, Judge Jackson, based on your response, are you inferring that the definition of “woman” is necessarily tied to biology? If so, should not the NCAA 500 Yard Women’s Swimming First Place winner, Lea Thomas be disqualified for not being a ‘woman’? And, how should such cases concerning trans athletes be handled if (and when) they appear before the United States Supreme Court?”

2. “Judge Jackson, President Joe Biden announced that his Supreme Court Justice Nominee would be a ‘Black Woman’ (presumptively regardless of any other qualifications). Given the fact that ‘black’ is an adjective and ‘woman’ is a noun, please explain to us exactly how you are qualified to be President Biden’s Supreme Court Justice Nominee.”

Mic drop.

Supreme Court Justices deal with real-world scenarios. Oftentimes, Court decisions are rendered based on the actual words used in the case. Words matter.

And SCOTUS Justices should be able to answer simple questions. Because words matter.