Pres. Trump nominates Judge Amy Coney Barrett for SCOTUS

In a Rose Garden ceremony Saturday, President Donald Trump introduced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as “a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the constitution.”

Barrett, 48, a 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge was appointed to that position in 2017 by President Trump. She was joined in the ceremony by her husband, Jesse, and their seven children. If confirmed by the Senate, Barrett will fill the seat left vacant by the recent death of 87-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in what would be the most significant ideological shift since President George H.W. Bush appointed Clarence Thomas to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall in 1991.

In her speech, Judge Barrett, a former clerk to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, recalled the close friendship between Justices Scalia and Ginsberg, making the case for congeniality regardless of party affiliation, while clarifying that his “judicial philosophy is mine, too.” When she applied as a law clerk, one of her law school professors wrote to Scalia saying Amy Coney was “the best student I’ve ever had.“ Graduating first in her class, she went on to teach at Notre Dame law school for 15 years.

As a testament to the high regard in which Judge Barrett is held, every law clerk at the Supreme Court — self-described as Democrats, Republicans and Independents — all wrote letters endorsing her.

Described as an “originalist” and a “textualist,” Barrett’s judicial philosophy has been likened to that of her mentor and former boss, Antonin Scalia.

Judge Barrett would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican president, and the third of President Trump’s first term in office — a remarkable achievement and lasting legacy.

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) had previously announced they would not support filling this vacancy so close to the election. On Tuesday Murkowski had a change of heart, saying she won’t rule out voting to confirm the Supreme Court nominee.

This is the impressive list of federal judges appointed by President Trump.

Click here to watch the video of the nominating ceremony.