Amy Coney Barrett

President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, is appearing before senators in what has been billed as a “contentious week” of confirmation hearings.

The 48-year-old conservative jurist has vowed to judge legal cases impartially.

But her nomination so close to the 3 November presidential election has sparked a political row between the Republicans and rival Democrats.

The panel’s top Republican began by vowing to confirm the “great woman”.

But one Democratic senator on the committee described the process as “shameful”.

Judge Barrett’s approval would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the nine-member top court, shifting its ideological balance for potentially decades to come.

President Trump picked Judge Barrett to replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month aged 87.

The Republicans – who currently hold a slim majority in the US Senate, the body that confirms Supreme Court judges – are trying to complete the process before Mr Trump takes on Democratic rival Joe Biden in the election.Who is Amy Coney Barrett? favoured by social conservatives due to record on issues like abortion and gay marriage a devout Catholic but says her faith does not influence her legal opinion is an originalist, which means interpreting US Constitution as authors intended, not moving with the times lives in Indiana, has seven children including two adopted from Haiti

The court’s nine justices serve lifetime appointments, and their rulings can shape public policy on everything from gun and voting rights to abortion and campaign finance.

Democrats fear Judge Barrett’s successful nomination would favour Republicans in politically sensitive cases that reach the Supreme Court.’Shameful process’

In his opening statement, committee Chairman Lindsey Graham described Ms Barrett as being “in a category of excellence, something the country should be proud of”, but predicted “a long contentious week” of hearings.

The committee’s top Democrat Dianne Feinstein opened her remarks defending healthcare reforms passed under President Barack Obama, saying that Ms Barrett’s appointment could threaten health access for millions.

“Simply put, I do not think we should be moving forward on this nomination,” she said, calling for the hearings to be delayed until after the election.

Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy said Republicans announced plan to fill Ginsberg’s seat “just one hour after the announcement of her death.”

“From that moment this process has been nothing but shameful. Worse, it will almost certainly lead to disastrous consequences for Americans.”

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley predicted that Democrats would “rustle up baseless claims and scare tactics” in an attempt to “smear” the nominee and will “outright disparage her religious beliefs”.What will Judge Barrett say in her opening remarks?

In what is effectively an interview for the job, the confirmation hearing will give Judge Barrett a chance to explain her legal philosophy and qualifications for the lifetime post.

In prepared remarks released ahead of Monday’s meeting, Judge Barrett thanks President Trump for “entrusting me with this profound responsibility”, which she calls the “honour of a lifetime”.

In the speech, Judge Barrett will speak of the importance of her family and how her parents prepared her for a “life of service, principle, faith, and love”.

Judge Barrett will pay tribute to judges she has worked with, including former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Justice Scalia’s reasoning “shaped me”, Judge Barrett will say. “His judicial philosophy was straightforward: A judge must apply the law as written, not as the judge wishes it were.”

Judge Barrett will say she has “resolved to maintain that same perspective” in her legal career.

It is up to elected politicians to make “policy decisions and value judgments”, not Supreme Court justices, Judge Barrett will say.

“In every case, I have carefully considered the arguments presented by the parties, discussed the issues with my colleagues on the court, and done my utmost to reach the result required by the law, whatever my own preferences might be,” she will say.

“When I write an opinion resolving a case, I read every word from the perspective of the losing party. I ask myself how would I view the decision if one of my children was the party I was ruling against.”

By Media1

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *