Judge Barrett confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice

Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as the 115th justice of the Supreme Court last Monday, Oct. 26 following a 52-48 vote in the Senate (NY Times). Justice Barrett is the fifth woman to ever serve, and graduated with a law degree from Notre Dame Law School (whitehouse.gov).  

At the White House ceremony Monday night following the Senate vote, President Trump remarked that it was a “momentous day” for the country (NPR). 

“The Barrett family has captured America’s hearts. It is highly fitting that Justice Barrett fills the seat of a true pioneer for women, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” the president also said (NBC). 

Justice Barrett is the first Associate Justice of the Supreme Court to be confirmed in 151 years with no votes from the opposition party in the United States Congress (NBC).  The opposition party, the Democratic Party, is worried that another conservative on the court could harm the rights of the LGBT community. Democrats argued that President Trump and the Republican party should have waited to fill the spot on the Supreme Court until after the election. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cited a series of successful elections for the Republican party as the reason the Supreme Court gained another conservative-leaning Associate Justice. 

Justice Barrett graduated from Catholic Private University Notre Dame and is Catholic herself. She is also a mother to seven children. Her pro-life beliefs are not a secret given her Catholic faith and background. 

“This is the most openly pro-life judicial nominee to the Supreme Court in my lifetime.This is an individual who has been open in her criticism of that illegitimate decision, Roe v. Wade,” said senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.