On day two of the Senate confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s latest nominee for the Supreme Court, Chicago Judge Amy Coney Barrett explained to lawmakers the personal significance of being nominated to fill the high court seat left vacant by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Barrett began by noting she’s been on somewhat of a media blackout since her nomination in September “for the sake of my mental health.” She then, though, went on to celebrate her career success alongside her personal success, noting her “large” and “multiracial” family.
“I don’t think it’s any secret to any of you or to the American people that this is a really difficult — some might say excruciating — process,” Barrett said. “Jesse and I had a very brief amount of time to make a decision with momentous consequences for our family.”
The jurist, who is Catholic, went on to say she knows her personal life “will be combed over for any negative detail” and that her “faith would be caricatured” and her “family would be attacked.” (Media members and lawmakers have, in fact, attacked her faith and family.)
“So we had to decide whether those difficulties would be worth it, because what sane person would go through that if there wasn’t a benefit on the other side,” Barrett continued. “And the benefit, I think, is that I’m committed to the rule of law and the role of the Supreme Court in dispensing equal justice for all. And I’m not the only person who can do this job, but I was asked.”
Ultimately, Barrett said she decided to “serve my country, and my family’s all in on that, because they share my belief in the rule of law.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) concluded his time questioning Barrett by explaining why he believes her nomination to the Supreme Court is of such historical significance.
“Really, before the people of the United States is a very basic question: is it OK to be religiously conservative? Is it OK to be pro-life in your personal life? It clearly is OK to be progressive and be pro-choice and seek a seat on the Supreme Court,” Graham said. “Here’s why your nomination is so important to me. In my world, to be a young conservative woman is not an easy path to take. … I wanna thank President Trump for choosing you, and I will do everything I can to make sure you have a seat at the table, and that table is the Supreme Court.”
“If anybody in the country, in my view, deserves to have a seat at the table based on the way they’ve lived their life and their capabilities in the law, it is you, judge,” he added. “God bless you.”