After much speculation from the nation, President Trump has named Amy Coney Barrett as his supreme court justice pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Ginsberg past away last week from complications of pancreatic cancer.
Barrett is currently Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Barrett was the first woman to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit. She is a staunch constitutionalist, who is described as an “originalist” and a “textualist.” Barrett mentor with Justice Antonin Scalia.
Prior to her confirmation to the Seventh circuit, Barrett held a position as professor of law at Notre Dame Law School, where she taught civil procedure, constitutional law and statutory interpretation. Barrett’s area of research focused on originalism, statutory interpretation, and stare decisis. She has received accolades for her theories from Professor Noah Feldman of Harvard who called her as “a truly brilliant lawyer.” Feldman believed that Barrett was legally prepared for service on the Supreme Court some 20 years prior to her confirmation to the Seventh Circuit.
Born in New Orleans in 1972, Barrett is a practicing Catholic who believes in the sanctity of life. She is married to Jesse Barrett a former federal prosecutor from Indiana. The couple have seven children two of whom were born in Haiti and adopted. They also have a natural born special needs child with down syndrome.
Senate Republicans believe they have the votes needed to confirm Barrett, since both Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have said they will likely vote on a nominee put forth by the president. Susan Collins, has remained stead fast in her original statement that she did not support a vote.
