Rep. James Clyburn Says He Does Not ‘Believe In Ultimatums’ When It Comes To Biden’s Supreme Court Pick
House Minority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina is advocating that South Carolina U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs be nominated to the Supreme Court. The Washington Post reports that while he’s an advocate, Clyburn has said that Childs is “not a must.” In an interview with the newspaper from his office, Clyburn explained “I don’t believe in ultimatums. I don’t want nobody [sic] giving me one, and I’m not going to give anybody else one. I may be disappointed for the rest of my life, but I’m not going to give an ultimatum.”
Since last month when Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, Clyburn has championed Childs as a potential replacement. He stressed that Childs would get Republican votes in the Senate confirmation process. One example of such support is South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham praising Childs during a recent appearance on CBS News ‘Face The Nation.’
Graham warned the White House that Childs would be its best opportunity for a bipartisan nominee. On Sunday he said that any other nominee for the high court “would be problematic.”
Clyburn only endorsed Biden during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary after Biden committed to selecting a Black woman to the high court if a position opened up during Biden’s presidency. Once then candidate Biden agreed, he earned the Congressman's endorsement in a key state.
Biden says he is considering four women to fill Breyer’s seat, and will decide on an ultimate nominee by the end of this month.
Among the names believed to be under consideration are Childs, Ketanji Brown Jackson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger.
