Reporter asks Psaki if Biden will pledge to nominate a gay, or Asian justice next time

White House press secretary Jen Psaki pointed reporters to President Joe Biden’s “record” when asked about his commitment to nominate “diverse” candidates to courts.

Referring to the impending retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, a reporter asked during Wednesday’s press briefing about the president’s promise to nominate a black woman to fill the vacant seat and whether he will also “pledge” to look at Asian American or LGBTQ candidates in an effort to “diversify” the high court.

“Given the president’s commitment to diversify [the Supreme Court], will he make similar pledges should he have another opportunity to nominate someone?” the reporter asked.

“For example, there’s never been an Asian American justice or an LGBTQ justice. So, will he make a similar pledge?” the reporter clarified.

“He has had an enormous number of justices — judges – he has nominated who are people of color, who are women,” Psaki responded.

“He has nominated and confirmed an extraordinarily diverse bench of qualified individuals to serve on the courts and that is certainly a priority for him,” she said. “I don’t have any new pledges to announce for you but I think I would point you to his record which speaks to his commitment to ensuring the court is more diverse.”

(Relevant portion begins at 9:50 mark)


(Video: Fox News)

A new ABC News/ Ipsos poll found that most Americans actually have a negative view of Biden’s vow to choose a black woman without considering all potential nominees for the Supreme Court.

“Americans overwhelmingly believe Joe Biden should ‘consider all possible nominees’ (76%) rather than ‘consider only nominees who are Black women, as he has pledged to do’ (23%),” the survey reported, noting that even a majority of Democrats, 54%, want him to weigh all the choices.

“The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity,” Biden said at a ceremony honoring Breyer. “And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It’s long overdue in my view. I made that commitment during the campaign for president, and I will keep that commitment.”

Frieda Powers

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