If the Senate approves,
Amy Coney Barrett will become the youngest justice of the US Supreme Court –
one of the most influential positions in America for decades to come.
If you go back a couple
of years, you might remember her name from conversations regarding the
replacement of Anthony Kennedy. Of course, that seat was eventually filled by
Brett Kavanaugh after several controversial hearings.
Republicans need this
48-year-old lawyer and jurist to win the seat before the presidential election
on November 3rd. Although Democrats don’t have the power to block
her, it’s clear that the process will be no less controversial than the
Kavanaugh case.
Barrett has a strong
association with People of Praise – a Christian group with an authoritarian
internal structure. Due to this affiliation, both political factions have
raised their concerns. The Democrats wonder if her religious convictions will
impact her conduct as the Supreme Court Justice whereas the opposition argues
that her personal associations should not be used to undermine her ability.
Conservatives have, in fact, gone on record to
say that religious beliefs should be exempted from the argument. On the other
hand, Liberals continue to question whether or not Barrett’s ability to
administer jurisprudence on controversial matters like abortion and
contraception threaten religious liberty and female bodily rights.
The resume of Amy Coney
Barrett includes clerking association with the late conservative justice
Antonin Scalia – he had argued that abortion is not a constitutional right.
Many left-wingers fear that Barrett poses a threat to the Roe v. Wade ruling of
1973 that ensured abortion rights.
Amy Coney Barrett is a
mother of seven and has two adopted kids from Haiti. She had admitted that
she likes Justice Elena Kagan who is actually a supporter appointed by Obama as an abortion-rights advocate.
Source: Bloomberg
When Barrett claimed
that she intends to bring the knowledge and skills that she has acquired as an
academic to practice, Dianne Feinstein disagreed. She said that Barrett has long been believing that religious beliefs must prevail.
Barrett countered by
saying that she is a faithful catholic but she ensures that her beliefs don’t
interfere during jurisdiction. At the same time, she added that her legal
career is a means to serve God.
People of Praise, the group she associates
herself with, described itself as a group that supports each other financially,
materially, and spiritually.
The message on its
website reads:
“Our covenant is neither an oath nor a vow, but it is an important personal commitment. Members should always follow their consciences, as formed by the light of reason, and by the experience and the teachings of their churches.”
Some people say that
the members of People of Praise support the conservative side of the church,
which is why they’re most likely to oppose the progressive teachings of Pope
Francis. The prominent feature observed within this Christian group is that
it’s hierarchal and women don’t hold senior positions.
Trump considers
Barrett’s nomination as his last chance to fuel the religious conservatives and
strengthen his position in the elections. In fact, he even met the evangelical
leaders at the White House before introducing Amy Coney Barrett as the official
nominee at the press conference.
Barrett served as a
professor at Notre Dame in 2012, and during her tenure, she had signed a letter
which attacked the foundation of the healthcare reform known as Obamacare – it
essentially insured companies that covered for contraception.
It’s obvious that
Republicans have always tried to bring down the ACA, and Barrett’s appointment
may actually seal its fate.