Amy Coney Barrett: Filling the Seat

After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s (RBG’s) death, President Trump was quick to replace her. RBG died on September 18, 2020, and President Trump wasted no time, jumping to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett. This sparked a national debate, not even two months before the 2020 election. Since then, Amy Coney Barrett has been sworn into the Supreme Court. This happened only seven days before the election. Nonetheless, Justice Barrett is an exceptional judge who will have a large influence on the future of America.

Amy Coney Barrett was born on January 28, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised catholic and that has led her to where she is now. Barrett went to college at Rhodes College in Memphis Tennesee, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. She then attended Notre Dame law school where she graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree. Barrett has a husband named Jesse Barret and seven children, some of which are adopted. 

At the time of her nomination, Barrett was a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On October 26, the Senate voted to confirm Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, with all but one Republican voting in favor and all Democrats voting against; Barrett took the judicial oath on October 27, 2020. The 35 days between the nomination and the 2020 presidential election marked the shortest period of time between a nomination to the Supreme Court and an election in U.S. history. Her election unleavened the power of the supreme court even more, with a 6:3 conservative to liberal ratio.

Judge Barrett, has compiled an almost uniformly conservative voting record in cases touching on abortion, gun rights, discrimination and immigration. According to biography.com, “In 2012, she signed a statement that criticized President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate that contraceptives be covered by health insurance plans as a “grave violation of religious freedom.” Three years later, she signed a letter to Catholic Bishops that praised “the value of human life from conception to natural death” and “family founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman.” Justice Barrett’s election into the Supreme Court may very well threaten women’s reproductive rights, gay marriage rights and the balance in the supreme court.

Amy Coney Barrett’s election was sudden, and some may say rushed, but President Trump picked a well-qualified and well-educated judge. Justice Barrett will have a hard time trying to fill RBG’s shoes, but all that we can do is hope she makes the future for our country and the future for the youth here at AHS brighter.