Eight days before the presidential election, the Senate fulfilled Majority Leader Mitch McConell’s promise to rush the appointment of a new associate justice to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s vacancy.
Following a vote last week by the Judiciary Committee, the Senate confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to become the 115th associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, where she can serve a lifetime appointment. In a private ceremony today, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the Judicial Oath to Barrett, allowing her participation in the court to begin.
Barrett is Trump’s third appointee to the Supreme Court
The White House applauds Barrett for being the first mother of school-aged children and the fifth woman ever to serve. She is also the only current justice to have a law degree from a school other than Harvard or Yale (she went to Notre Dame).
“Courts have a vital responsibility to the rule of law, which is critical to a free society, but courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett said during her confirmation hearings.
An article by Mother Jones pointed out Barrett is the least experienced nominee in three decades. Her resume includes 2 years of private practice (most of which were civil cases, not criminal), 15 years as a teacher and 3 years as a judge. She has never tried a case, argued an appeal or argued before the Supreme Court. The American Bar Association recommends lawyers provide 50 hours a year of free legal services, especially for the poor; Barrett has never done any notable pro bono work.
The nomination process began exactly one month ago with a 150-person ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, which Dr. Anthony Fauci deemed a COVID-19 “superspreader event.” The Trumps, among numerous other White House staffers, tested positive for the virus days later.
Confirmation met with resistance
The speedy nomination process disregards Ginsburg’s final request before her death on September 18. According to NPR, she dictated to granddaughter Clara Spera that “my most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” With over 64 million votes already in, Republicans ignored the democratic notion to represent its people with an informed opinion.
The final vote came in 52-48. Vox noted that the 48 senators who voted against Barrett represent over 13 million more constituents than the 52 who approved her placement.
McConnell was right when he said, “The Senate will render one of the most consequential judgements it can ever deliver.” With her appointment shifting to a 6-3 conservative majority, the Affordable Care Act, reproductive rights, LGBT rights and voting rights are vulnerable more than ever. Democrat leaders took to social media to voice their opinions.
We reject this injustice.
We will fight for our rights.
We will legislate our values. pic.twitter.com/lB55BCTvPa
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) October 27, 2020
Amy Coney Barrett's nomination is illegitimate.
I vote no. pic.twitter.com/PHQZhbPduX
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) October 26, 2020
Remember that Republicans have lost 6 of the last 7 popular votes, but have appointed 6 of the last 9 justices.
By expanding the court we fix this broken system and have the court better represent the values of the American people.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 27, 2020
Instead of working to provide COVID-19 relief to struggling Americans, Mitch McConnell and Republicans chose to jam through a Supreme Court nominee—when more than 62 million people have already voted. It’s despicable and they must be held accountable.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 26, 2020
Thank you @CoryBooker for submitting the @blklivesmatter letter opposing Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court today, signed by over 18,000 people.
The vote that just happed is completely undemocratic, illegitimate and corrupt.
Expand The Court! pic.twitter.com/JP3iTXc81k
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) October 27, 2020
