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Amy Coney Barrett doesn’t want to compromise. In the first round of hearings in the United States Senate, the Supreme Court candidate dodges many critical questions. To the frustration of the Democrats.
By Katrin Brand, ARD Studio Washington
Senator Diane Feinstein attempted a human entry. He admired the great family that Amy Coney Barrett had brought to the audience. Couldn’t you even introduce them? Sure, says Barrett. Her husband had come with her, six of her seven children and six siblings, she described willingly.
However, if Senator Feinstein expected the Supreme Court nominee to be equally enthusiastic about contentious court matters, she was wrong. Feinstein, the California Democrat, wanted to know what Barrett thought of the Supreme Court’s most important abortion ruling. But Barrett sidestepped, an assessment is not her: “My plan is to adhere to law and order and decide cases as they arise,” Barrett said, which Senator Feinstein thwarted. Not getting a direct answer is worrying, Feinstein said, he will try again now.
Stable conservative majority
Senators from the Democrats fought their way through the candidate late into the night. In vain. Whether it’s abortion, gay marriage, or health insurance, Barrett did not provide information on whether he intends to overturn previous Supreme Court rulings. Democrats suspect that yes, Barrett is very conservative, a devout Catholic, is against abortion and is in favor of traditional marriage. But yesterday he insisted that his personal opinions had nothing to do with how he decided the cases, Barrett said, which shouldn’t be clear to anyone.
He received no instructions from the White House. And she is not hostile to President Obama’s health care reform. The issue is of particular concern to Democrats. Obamacare is fiercely opposed by Republicans and soon after the election is back on the agenda of the Supreme Court, which would later have a stable conservative majority of 6: 3 votes.
Decision in October?
The questioning of the 48-year-old girl, who was nominated by President Trump as a Supreme Court judge, as the successor to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, lasted almost twelve hours yesterday. Republicans fully support her, said Lindsey Graham, chair of the judicial committee. She hoped that when this was all over, there would be a place for her at the table, as Judge Ginsburg had had before. Democrats would like to prevent Barrett from being confirmed before the election, but they don’t have the necessary majority.
The hearing continues today and the committee will vote on Thursday. At the end of October, shortly before the elections, the Senate will decide. Republicans have a majority there.
