WATCH: Jackson's defense work is an asset, Hirono says - PBS NewsHour

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Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s work as a public defender, including her defense of Guantanamo Bay detainees, was necessary for the judicial system and a service to the United States, Sen. Mazie Hirono. D-Hawaii), said during confirmation hearings March 22.

Hirono quoted a document she described as a letter from conservative lawyers defending criminal defense lawyers who had taken on the cases of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

“The American tradition of zealous representation of unpopular clients is at least as old as John Adams is representation of the British soldiers charged in the Boston Massacre,” Hirono read.

“Good defense counsel is key to ensuring that military commissions, federal juries and federal judges have access to the best arguments and most rigorous factual presentation before making crucial decisions that affect both national security and paramount liberty interests.”

Hirono used this to push back against Republicans in the Senate, who she characterized as trying to tarnish Jackson over her public defense work.

“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle … tried to say that your representation and your work as a public defender somehow just disqualifies you or makes you lean one way or the other. So you've made it very clear that that is not what you're about," Hirono said.

Jackson was nominated by President Joe Biden in February to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she will be the first Black woman on the high court. After opening statements from Jackson, her colleagues and the senators March 21, senators will spend two days questioning Jackson at length about her rulings and judicial philosophy. On the final day of the hearings March 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear from friends and colleagues of Jackson about her temperament and approach to the law.