Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Pinion said Friday in an interview he would give any U.S. Supreme Court nominee — regardless of the president's party who nominated them — a fair hearing before deciding whether he would vote to confirm them. 

"I think we're waiting to see obviously what she has to say on her behalf," Pinion said. "I think at the end of the day it's about advise and consent."

Pinion's comments come after President Joe Biden last month nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the coming vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the coming retirement of Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Pinion is challenging U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer this year. 

Her meetings with members of the U.S. Senate are expected to begin later this month.

If confirmed, Jackson would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Her confirmation is not expected to tip the balance of the court between conservatives and liberals. 

"Every single person that the president nominates irrespective of their party has the right to be heard, should be given fair and free consideration," Pinion said. "So I would definitely commit to doing that and from there make a determination based on those credentials." 

On Monday, Pinion received the designation as the preferred Republican candidate of the state GOP committee. Pinion hopes to debate Schumer in the coming months and has been traveling the state to build support for his candidacy.