Senate panel approves Barrett
The Republican- led US Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to a lifetime Supreme Court seat despite a Democratic boycott, clearing the way for a final Senate confirmation vote planned for Monday.
By a 12- 0 vote, the panel approved Barrettwith all Republicanmembers voting yes and the 10 committee Democrats boycotting the meeting after calling the confirmation process a sham. With Republicans holding a 53- 47 Senate majority, Barrett’s confirmation appears certain.
Conservative majority
Trump, who asked the Senate to confirm Barrett before the November 3 US election in which he is being challenged by Democrat Joe Biden, applauded the committee vote, writing on Twitter: “Big day for America!” Barrett, 48, has been a federal appeals court judge since 2017 and previously was a legal scholar at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Her confirmation would give the top US judicial body a 6- 3 conservative majority.
“The Senate majority is conducting the most rushed, the most partisan and the least legitimate process in the long history of Supreme Court nominations,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters after the vote.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said the Democratic boycott was “their choice.” “It will bemy choice to vote the nominee out of committee. We’re not going to allow them to take over the committee,” Graham said.
Trump has said he believes the Supreme Court will decide the election’s outcome and has made clear he wants Barrett on the bench for any electionrelated cases.