Senate Republicans move to downplay race in looming Supreme Court battle

WASHINGTON — Some Senate Republicans are predicting a civil but tough Supreme Court battle in which their members largely steer clear of the nominee's identity as a Black woman, a historic element that Democrats have played up as they tout the need for a more representative judiciary that looks like America.

But that marks a shift from recent weeks, when several Republicans drew criticism for comments made after President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to nominate a Black woman to replace retiring Justice Stephen G. Breyer on the high court.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., quipped that he wanted "a nominee who knows a law book from a J. Crew catalog."

Sen. Ted