The Republican-controlled United States Senate is set to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee Amy Coney Barrett as the next Supreme Court justice on Monday, a move that will tip the nation’s highest court toward right for years to come.
No candidate for the Supreme Court has been confirmed by the Senate this close to a presidential election.
The rush to confirm Barrett, 48, has bitterly divided Democrats and Republicans, who are expected to split along party lines in the final vote. Trump has repeatedly said that he wants her to be in his place to vote in any election-related case that goes to court.
With Republicans controlling House 53-47 and no indication of an internal revolt against the conservative appeals court judge that succeeded liberal Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barrett seems almost certain that he will take a life term in court over opposition universal democrat.
Several Republicans who previously expressed concerns about speeding up the process, including Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, are expected to approve Barrett’s nomination.
With Barrett confirmed, the Supreme Court will have a solid 6-3 conservative majority.
The White House planned a celebration Monday night of the expected confirmation, a month after a similar event was linked to a Covid-19 outbreak that preceded President Donald Trump’s own infection.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that the event planned for Monday night would likely take place outdoors. “Tonight, we will do our best to encourage as much social distancing as possible,” Meadows said.
Barrett is expected to participate in a crucial hearing on November 10, where Trump and his fellow Republicans will ask the court to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The 2010 health law, popularly known as Obamacare, has helped millions of Americans obtain health insurance and protected people with pre-existing conditions.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate judicial committee this month, Barrett, a favorite of conservative Christians, sidestepped questions about abortion, presidential powers, climate change, voting rights, Obamacare and other topics.
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