and always considered the front-runner for the vacancy created by the coming retirement of justice stephen breyer for whom she once clerked and would bring unique work experience as a former federal public defender add member of the u.s. sentences commissioning. >> you will be the first public defender on the court. you understand our justice system uniquely through the eyes of people who couldn't afford a lawyer. >> reporter: monday marked jackson's fourth congressional hearing over the course of her career. >> i decide cases from a neutral posture. i evaluate the facts and i interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me without fear or favor, consistent with my judicial oath. >> reporter: but republicans on the committee had several lines of attack against jackson. some gop lawmakers signaled they will take on her judicial philosophy. >> it's not enough to say only