[ad_1]
Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The nomination, which was widely expected, was confirmed by the president of the United States in the White House.
He said the 48-year-old was “a woman of unparalleled achievement, a commanding intellect, excellent credentials and an unwavering loyalty to the constitution.”
Trump was expected to pick the staunch conservative
Trump’s nomination comes after liberal icon Justice Ginsburg died of complications from pancreatic cancer.
Before announcing his election, Trump paid tribute to the “legal giant and pioneer of women” who had “inspired Americans for generations to come.”
Also known as RBG, the 87-year-old had championed gender equality and social justice before and after being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993.
Her dying wish was reportedly not to be replaced until after the November U.S. election, but Trump asked Senate Republicans to confirm his nominee before then.
In accepting Trump’s nomination, Ms Barrett said that if her position was confirmed, she would use it to serve all Americans and not just those in her “own circles.”
“I will do my best to ensure that I am worthy of your support,” she said.
Ms. Barret is nominated for the new Justice of the US Supreme Court.
Who is Amy Coney Barret?
Trump, 48, was appointed by Trump to the Chicago-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017 before being nominated for the life of the Supreme Court.
She is a staunch conservative and her appointment two years ago came amid accusations that Democrats were attacking her Catholic faith.
Advocates for abortion rights are concerned that Ms. Barrett, who was born in New Orleans and earned her law degree in Indiana, may support the de-legalization of abortion across the country.
In the Seventh Circuit, he voted in favor of one of Trump’s strong immigration policies and supported expansive gun rights. She was also the author of a ruling that makes it easier for college students accused of sexual assault on campus to sue institutions.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg recently died
A devout Roman Catholic, she and her lawyer husband have seven children, two of whom were adopted from Haiti.
A confirmed seat would make her the fifth woman to hold a high court position and expand her Conservative majority to six or three. The six conservatives are also Roman Catholics, even though religion makes up just over 20% of the American population.
She would be the youngest Supreme Court candidate since conservative Clarence Thomas was 43 in 1991.
Like the other two Trump appointees, Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, Barrett’s age means he could serve for decades.
Many want the Senate to wait until the election to confirm
What happens now?
The Senate Judiciary Committee will examine the candidate and hold confirmation hearings. The FBI also conducts a background check. Once the committee approves the nomination, it goes to the full Senate for a final vote.
The nominee traditionally meets with individual senators before confirmation hearings begin. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said she will act swiftly on Trump’s election, though she has not released a timetable.
:: Subscribe to Divided States on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker
But if Republicans fill out the paperwork quickly and the nominee meets with senators as soon as possible, three to four days of hearings could begin in early October.
However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not guaranteed that a final vote will take place before the election.
The Supreme Court nomination hearings have taken about 70 days, though Kavanaugh’s took longer and others less. The elections are less than 40 days away.
Does the Senate have enough votes to confirm?
McConnell, who said he would act swiftly in Trump’s election, appears to have the votes for now. Republicans control the Senate 53-47, meaning it could lose up to three Republican votes and still confirm a judge if Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie.
At this point, McConnell appears to have lost the support of two Republicans: Maine Senator Susan Collins and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Both said they do not believe the Senate should accept the nomination before the election.
