Senate Committee Advances Barrett Nomination Over Dem Boycott

October 22, 2020 by Tom Ramstack
Senate Committee Advances Barrett Nomination Over Dem Boycott

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, nearly guaranteeing she will be confirmed by a vote of the full Republican-controlled Senate.

“How could anybody in their right mind after listening to Judge Barrett not believe that she is just qualified, she is incredibly qualified,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Democrats on the committee disagreed. In fact, they boycotted the vote Thursday, meaning she was approved by all 12 Republicans on the committee but all 10 Democrats boycotted the meeting.

“They started this, not me,” Graham said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., scheduled a full Senate vote Monday on whether to confirm Barrett to the Supreme Court. 

The final vote is scheduled only days before the Nov. 3 presidential election, which drew resentment from Democrats.

They said the appointment of a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should wait until after the election.

Their main objections during the nomination hearing included Barrett’s opposition to abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act for nearly universal health care insurance.

President Donald Trump also opposes abortion and the Affordable Care Act, which contributed to his reasons for nominating Barrett.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee continued their praise of Barrett and criticism of Democrats after deciding to send her nomination to a full vote for confirmation.

“This is a major victory for the American people,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican.

Popular opinion polls were more timid on whether they believe Barrett’s appointment so close to the election is a good idea. A Politico/Morning Consult poll released this week found that only 51 percent of voters agree she was properly nominated before the election.

Barrett’s presence on the Supreme Court would mean Trump appointed three justices, giving conservatives a solid 6-to-3 majority likely to last for decades.

The conservatives are expected to shift the Supreme Court’s interpretations in upcoming cases on the Affordable Care Act, gun rights, religious freedom and the pivotal abortion case of Roe v. Wade.

Part of Republicans’ criticism during the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday focused on Democrats’ suggestions of expanding the size of the Supreme Court, perhaps to 13 members.

The current Supreme Court consists of nine justices.

The Republicans described the idea as court-packing intended to circumvent the conservative majority.

Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden said recently he favors judicial reform but stopped short of saying he wants to expand the number of Supreme Court justices.

In an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Biden said that if he is elected president he would “put together a national commission — a bipartisan commission” on judicial reform.


A+
a-
  • Amy Coney Barrett
  • Lindsey Graham
  • Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Supreme Court
  • Ted Cruz
  • U.S. Senate
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Supreme Court

    September 14, 2023
    by Tom Ramstack
    Gun Dealers Lose Appeal to Block New York Background Check Law

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday rejected an emergency appeal from New York gun dealers trying... Read More

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday rejected an emergency appeal from New York gun dealers trying to block a new background check law that would have state police review gun license applications instead of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. State police background... Read More

    September 8, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Abortion Drug Maker Asks Supreme Court to Toss Appellate Ruling

    WASHINGTON — Danco Laboratories, maker of the Mifeprex® abortion pill, asked the Supreme Court on Friday to overturn a ruling... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Danco Laboratories, maker of the Mifeprex® abortion pill, asked the Supreme Court on Friday to overturn a ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would dramatically limit the availability of the drug. In August the conservative 5th Circuit ruled Mifeprex® and... Read More

    September 6, 2023
    by Tom Ramstack
    Senator Demands Chief Justice Investigate Justice Alito’s Ethics

    WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. senator on the Judiciary Committee filed a complaint Monday with the chief justice of the... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. senator on the Judiciary Committee filed a complaint Monday with the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court that accuses Justice Samuel Alito of ethics violations. Although the complaint focuses partly on trips and gifts Alito received from donors, the underlying... Read More

    August 31, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Justice Thomas Discloses Private Trips, Real Estate Transaction With Texas Billionaire

    WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted three private jet flights from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow in 2022, and... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted three private jet flights from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow in 2022, and the two also engaged in a real estate transaction, according to a financial disclosure report released Thursday. Thomas filed the annual disclosure form on Aug. 9,... Read More

    August 24, 2023
    by Tom Ramstack
    Parents of Virginia Students Allege Discrimination in Supreme Court Petition

    WASHINGTON — Parents of Asian American students at a prestigious Alexandria, Virginia, high school petitioned the Supreme Court this week... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Parents of Asian American students at a prestigious Alexandria, Virginia, high school petitioned the Supreme Court this week to review what they call a racially discriminatory admissions policy. The petition represents the latest battleground for schools that try to promote ethnically diverse student bodies... Read More

    August 10, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Justices Put Opioid Settlement on Hold Pending Further Review

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said late Thursday afternoon that it will review a bankruptcy settlement involving Purdue Pharma,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said late Thursday afternoon that it will review a bankruptcy settlement involving Purdue Pharma, in the process placing a hold on a $6 billion deal that would forever shield the Sackler family from civil opioid lawsuits. In taking its action... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top