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Pelosi: Amy Coney Barrett Is an ‘Illegitimate Supreme Court Justice’

In the last week of October, the Supreme Court welcomed its newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett, after she was confirmed in an expedited process. During a press conference a week after her confirmation vote, House Speaker…

Bradley CortrightNov 3, 20202 min read

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The Senate voted to confirm Barrett on Oct. 26 in a party-line 52-48 vote with all, but one Republican senator voting to advance her nomination.

President Donald Trump

Sponsored

nominated Barrett to fill the vacancy on the

Supreme Court

that opened up in the wake of

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s

death.

Democrats strongly urged their Republican colleagues against filling the vacancy before the election. Former President Barack Obama (D) cited Senate Republicans’ decision to hold up his nomination of Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 and said, “A basic principle of the law — and of everyday fairness — is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on what’s convenient or advantageous in the moment.”

“The rule of law, the legitimacy of our courts, the fundamental workings of our democracy all depend on that basic principle,” he continued.

Finally, Obama said, “As votes are already being cast in this election, Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard.”

Democrats argued that voters should have the opportunity to choose the next president and that the winner of the election should fill the vacancy.

While Democrats opposed Barrett’s nomination and confirmation, a Gallup poll released shortly before the Senate voted to confirm her, found that a slim 51% majority supported her confirmation.