Judge Amy Coney Barrett And what Her Nomination to the Supreme Court Could Mean for Americans

By: ​Ines Laimeche

​          On Saturday, September 26th, President Donald Trump announced the judge who would be replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, 48-year-old Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who currently serves as a federal appeals judge in South Bend, Indiana. As frustrating as it is, it may not be surprising that both the White House and the Senate are trying to rush a confirmation to the Supreme Court just weeks before the momentous election. It is also not surprising that the seat of one of the most liberal justices on the Supreme Court would be replaced by an extremely conservative woman. 
          Barrett’s track record is jarring, to say the least; she’s a vocal opponent of Roe v. Wade and has voted to roll back abortion rights on multiple occasions. She has criticized key parts of the Affordable Care Act and protested against the protection of birth control, gender transition surgeries, and hormones under it. In cases she has judged on, she has repeatedly voted against giving protection to marginalized people of our nation like the elderly, people of color, college-aged sexual assault victims, incarcerated people, and immigrants. There’s no doubt that, if confirmed to the Supreme Court, her decisions on issues like abortion, healthcare, immigration, religious liberty, and more could negatively impact the lives of American citizens for decades to come.
         Naturally, however, top Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have prioritized rushing Barrett’s confirmation; showing blatant disregard for Justice Ginsberg’s final wishes. In their own words, both Senators vehemently opposed former President Obama’s decision to nominate Merrick Garland in 2016, several months before an election, and successfully blocked it. Yet, they have no issues with Trump nominating a candidate five weeks before an election. Their hypocrisy would be almost humorous if it weren’t a threat to the basic human rights of millions of Americans. 
          Politicians and activists from all across the left have spoken out against this nomination, vocalizing that the winner of the upcoming elections should get to pick Justice Ginsberg’s replacement. A recent New York Times poll shows that 56% of Americans feel the same. These actions, along with decisions regarding the coronavirus and racial injustice throughout 2020 by the majority party in the Senate and the White House have shown that they do not care what the people of America want or need. We need a government that represents all Americans, not just the most powerful.