Amy Coney Barrett Has Been Confirmed to the Supreme Court
People are terrified, confused, and angry about what's to come.
With just eight days until Election Day, Amy Coney Barrett has officially been confirmed to the Supreme Court, filling Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat. The Senate vote took place on the evening of October 26, in a vote of 52-48. Coney Barrett was sworn in by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas tonight at 9 p.m. at the White House. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the judicial oath during a private ceremony tomorrow, October 27, in the East Conference Room at the Supreme Court.
Since President Donald Trump nominated Coney Barrett exactly a month ago, people across the nation have expressed concern about the judge's perceived views on topics like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun safety while working in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, as well as her dedication to the judicial philosophy of originalism. Former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Barrett's mentor who she clerked for, interpreted the constitution this way while serving on the Supreme Court. Democratic politicians and constituents alike have questioned Judge Barrett's lack of experience, and called the rushed confirmation process "a sham." Senate Republicans stand by the proceedings.
With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) set to become one of the first cases the Supreme Court will hear with Judge Barrett on the Court, which threatens to take away coverage of preexisting conditions for millions of Americans in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are feeling terrified, angry, and anxious for what's to come with a majority conservative court. See the Twitter reactions to Coney Barrett's SCOTUS confirmation as associate justice, below.
I'm not ready for this Senate vote. Just not mentally ready for the damn Republicans to place an unqualified Amy Coney Barrett in a lifetime position. This is so wrong.October 27, 2020
This is a dark day. But it's important to remember why Republicans fought so hard to steal this Supreme Court seat. They've realized a truth that shakes them to their core: The American people are not on their side. And we'll keep fighting until we take our democracy back.October 27, 2020
The Senate GOP rammed through an extremist Supreme Court justice in a sham process as a final abuse of power before Election Day.We can't let them get away with their corruption and hypocrisy any longer. Let’s mobilize like hell these last 8 days to end their destructive reign.October 27, 2020
The last thing Donald Trump and the Senate GOP did before Election Day was steal Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat.Don’t let them forget. Go to https://t.co/1BvH8phPl5 to volunteer to defeat Republicans up and down the ballot. #WeAreComingForYourSeats #FliptheSenate pic.twitter.com/xxpmQhc2fhOctober 27, 2020
Vote them out.October 27, 2020
Trump and the GOP think that ramming through a right-wing nominee will silence our voices, slow our movement for justice, and stop our march for equality. They're wrong.Let's prove it by fighting like hell these last 8 days with everything on the line:https://t.co/3hwdVGYdHaOctober 27, 2020
And she was only allowed to vote no because her vote didn't matter. There are no heroes here. https://t.co/gpz9jnPjp6October 27, 2020
Today Republicans denied the will of the American people by confirming a Supreme Court justice through an illegitimate process—all in their effort to gut the Affordable Care Act and strip health care from millions with pre-existing conditions.We won’t forget this.October 27, 2020
WELP. The #GOP just forced Amy Barrett onto #SCOTUS with only 8 days till Election Day & over 63 million votes in--more than the total votes Trump received in 2016. As Americans suffer, the GOP prioritized their own power instead of #COVID relief. This is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/mYZt3RoLhCOctober 27, 2020
Expand the court.October 27, 2020
I am frustrated, and frankly, very angry. It did not have to be this way. By rushing to confirm this Supreme Court nominee, Senate Republicans openly and unapologetically defied the will of the American people—all to further their extreme, conservative agenda.October 27, 2020
Confirming a Supreme Court Justice 8 days before an election ends is unprecedented and wrong. So remember your heath care, your equal rights, and leaders you can trust are all on the ballot. #votebidenharrisOctober 27, 2020
We are going to take back the White House & Senate next week with a resounding mandate from the people to fight back against Trump’s illegitimately stacked judiciary. We must expand the Court if we’re serious about the transformational change the people are crying out for.October 27, 2020
Trump has now appointed ONE THIRD of the Supreme Court. This will harm generations to come.October 27, 2020
In 2016 they didn't even permit a hearing, let alone a vote. They have surrendered all standing ever again to speak of such things as "norms."October 27, 2020
A pageantry of prejudice. Fuck Amy Coney Barrett, and everyone who voted to secure her to the court. https://t.co/6LZ6AwB5jyOctober 27, 2020
Amy Coney Barrett's stance on the ACA was clear when Senator Collins voted to confirm her to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Senator Collins has voted for 181 of Trump's far-right, anti-health care judges and has put our health care in extreme jeopardy. #mepoliticsOctober 27, 2020
Expand the court.October 27, 2020
I just voted against Judge Barrett's confirmation. The American people want an independent jurist, not one who Republicans rushed onto the Supreme Court to help strike down the Affordable Care Act, end women's reproductive rights and strip away voting rights.October 27, 2020
The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett gives conservatives a supermajority to harm our communities, from right to choose, to the census, immigration, racial justice & more. We must organize & expand the court! https://t.co/o2uzJjTSMmOctober 27, 2020
It was always true, but it’s especially true with this Supreme Court: The work won’t end after 11/3. We’ll need to fight in *every* state capitol so bad laws don’t land in front of those justices. This work will be centered in the reddest states. It’ll be hard. Get ready.October 27, 2020
over forty million people have already voted in the 2020 election it’s incredible ANTI PEOPLE but that’s always what the senate was meant to be.. a check on the people.. don’t just expand the courts expand democracy overall.October 27, 2020
May we always remember & never forget the ghastly, loud, & overt paths people in power will always take to uphold white supremacy, cishetpatriarchy, & capitalism. In the middle of a pandemic. As cases surge nationwide. A week before an election. May we rage with action & uprise.October 27, 2020
i knew this was happening but my stomach is in knots. the fact that they could rush her into the courts and not pandemic relief is disgusting https://t.co/DtqR5qDruiOctober 27, 2020
Wish the Senate would pass a COVID-19 relief bill with the same sense of urgency they found to confirm an ultra-conservative SCOTUS Justice mere days before an election.October 27, 2020
We now live in a country in which 6 unelected officials have the ability to end health care access for millions of Americans and determine the reproductive futures of millions of women. Until they die. And the Supreme Court is far, far more extreme than a majority of Americans.October 27, 2020
Vote them all out.October 27, 2020
These people are such an embarrassment to their fellow citizens. Whew. https://t.co/1hhkf8TRaDOctober 27, 2020
As a woman I simply refuse to let them take my rights away. This is what that don't tread on me shit is actually about, and the dems better correct this shit. If you haven't voted, please fucking vote for Biden.October 27, 2020
Holy shit—Brett Kavanaugh just endorsed Rehnquist's concurrence in Bush v. Gore, which was too extreme for Kennedy or O'Connor.This is a red alert. I can't believe he put it in a footnote. This is terrifying. https://t.co/BebQghfqBb pic.twitter.com/Naxo692xLlOctober 26, 2020
In the midst of a global health crisis, with more than 225,000 dead in this country, @senatemajldr prioritized this sham process over passing desperately needed COVID relief.And he openly admitted it. https://t.co/lWC12T0dyNOctober 27, 2020
Senate Republicans just pushed through a Supreme Court justice who will help them take away Americans' health care in the middle of a pandemic. For them, this is victory. Vote them out.October 27, 2020
Instead of passing aid for millions of Americans in need, Mitch McConnell and Republicans jammed through a judge days before Election Day who threatens Americans' health care, voting rights, reproductive rights, and environment. They give hypocrisy a bad name. Vote them out.October 27, 2020
Expand the Court.October 27, 2020
Be clear: Republicans did SCOTUS like this--violating RBGs dying wish--so we'd get depressed, think we don't matter, that democracy doesn't matter. They need us to stay home because we are mighty. But we won't stay home. Onward to the polls. They're gone. The Senate is flipped.October 27, 2020
I hate it here.October 27, 2020
It's time to fight back and protect RBG's legacy. Vote for Pro-choice candidates up and down the ballot.Use @VoteChoice's simple Voter Guide to #VOTEPROCHOICE at the local level. And #VoteRuthlessly.https://t.co/Lk4iVSQNkoOctober 27, 2020
pic.twitter.com/qceX4FeBz3October 27, 2020
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Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop.
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