BARRETT SWORN IN TO TOP COURT
WASHINGTON • The Republican- controlled U. S. Senate handed President Donald Trump a major pre- election political victory on Monday by confirming his Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, with the White House planning a celebratory event afterward.
The Senate voted 52- 48, with Democrats unified in opposing Barrett’s confirmation, which creates a 6- 3 conservative majority on the high court. One Republican, Susan Collins, voted against the confirmation.
Barrett succeeds liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month.
At the ceremony, conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered one of the two oaths of office that justices have to take. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the separate judicial oath at the court on Tuesday, the court said.
Barrett spoke briefly after she was sworn in. She said judges must apply the law without succumbing to political pressure or personal preference.
“A judge declares independence not only from Congress and the president but also from the private beliefs that might otherwise move her,” she said.
The confirmation of Barrett, 48, to the lifetime post creates a 6- 3 conservative majority on the top U.S. judicial body.
Senate Minority Chuck Schumer said the Republican majority was “lighting its credibility on fire” by proceeding with the vote so close to the election after blocking Democratic President Barack Obama’s election-year nominee in 2016.
“The truth is this nomination is part of a decades-long effort to tilt the judiciary to the far right,” he added.
Republican Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell defended Barrett’s nomination.
“We don’t have any doubt, do we, that if the shoe was on the other foot, they’d be confirming,” Mcconnell said. “You can’t win them all, and elections have consequences.”
No nominee to the Supreme Court had ever been confirmed by the Senate this close to a presidential election. Trump has been touting the appointment at campaign rallies to the cheers of his supporters. He has said he expects the court to decide the outcome of the election between him and Democrat Joe Biden and wants Barrett to participate on any election-related cases that go before the justices.
Barrett will participate in Nov. 10 arguments in a case in which Trump and Republican- led states want to invalidate the Affordable Care Act. The 2010 health- care law, also known as Obamacare, has helped millions of Americans obtain medical insurance and barred private insurers from denying medical coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Barrett has criticized previous rulings upholding Obamacare but said during her confirmation hearing she had no agenda to invalidate the measure.