U.S. President Trump has nominated Amy Coney Barrett as the replacement for the late Supreme Court judge Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
He stated: “Today, it was my great honor to nominate one of our nation’s most brilliant and gifted legal minds to the Supreme Court. She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials, and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution: Judge Amy Coney Barrett…”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated: “President Trump could not have made a better decision. Judge Amy Coney Barrett is an exceptionally impressive jurist and an exceedingly well-qualified nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
In her speech after the nomination, Amy Coney Barrett said “…if the Senate does the honor of confirming me, I pledge to discharge the responsibilities of this job to the very best of my ability. I love the United States, and I love the United States Constitution. I am truly humbled by the prospect of serving on the Supreme Court.”
Who is Judge Amy Coney Barrett?
Judge Barrett is a jurist serving as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals, to which she nominated by President Trump in 2017. She a lawyer and an academic with high accolades. She studied English Literature at Rhodes College, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude in 1994. She then studied law at the University of Notre Dame, graduating with a Juris Doctor summa cum laude in 1997.
She has received numerous awards, including the “Distinguished Professor of the Year” award three times at Notre Dame, and has been published in various, respected, academic journals. She has also continued to teach while being a sitting judge.
Response from President Trump’s opponents
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Senate will vote in the weeks ahead. As White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah stated, it is the president’s job under the Constitution and to appoint someone to this seat.
Despite this, there has been backlash from Democrat candidates and representatives.
Democratic Presidential nominee, Joe Biden has been vocal about his opinion that the Supreme Court vacancy should not be filled until after the November election.
Before the nomination was announced, U.S Representative of New York’s 14th district, and member of Democratic Socialists of America, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, stated “If Mitch McConnell is not going to honour RBG’s final wish, we will… We will, and we have to…”
Concern has been expressed by Democrats and their supporters over Judge Barrett’s conservative views.
