In January, after 27 years on the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement. The moderately liberal justice gave President Joe Biden the opportunity to fulfill one of his campaign promises - which was to install a woman of color, on the highest court in the nation. The nominee to fill his seat, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, was announced in late February - and becomes the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, in its 233-year history.

Judge Jackson is a graduate of Harvard Law School, has served as a federal public defender - and would in fact, be the first federal public defender, to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She was also a clerk to the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

If the appointment goes through, it will shift the court's makeup, after President Trump's 3 more conservative leaning Supreme Court Justice nominees were appointed. Judge Jackson's confirmation hearings began Monday. There were moments of partisan bluster, but also moments of sincerity where we heard Jackson speak about her credentials and her experience.

The hearings conclude today behind closed doors, with a round of character witnesses, with friends and family giving their perspective on the judge, and with some opponents to the nomination.

Today on the program, we'll look at what transpired in the hearings thus far, discuss what lies ahead for Jackson, and what her potential appointment means for the Supreme Court.

Later in the hour, Ideastream General Manager Jenny Northern stops by again to answer more of your questions ahead of Ideastream's big move down the radio dial, and finally, a chat with long time comedian, and NPR favorite Paula Poundstone.

Guests:
-Jeremy Paris, Principal, The Raben Group, and, Former Chief Counsel for Nominations and Oversight, Senate Judiciary Committee
-Marquettes Robinson, Attorney, Eaton
-Jonathan Entin, Professor Emeritus of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science as Case Western Reserve University
-Jenny Northern, General Manager, Ideastream Public Radio
-Paula Poundstone, Comedian