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 Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) blasted the process, “The president is installing an illegitimate Supreme Court justice just one week before the election after 60 million Americans have voted, who will dismantle the [Affordable Care Act.]”
“And won’t say, either way, when asked, by Sen. [Dianne Feinstein D-Calif.], do you think Medicare is constitutional? She said she really couldn’t say,” she added.
Watch the video below:
In Election Day push for Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls Amy Coney Barrett "an illegitimate Supreme Court justice." pic.twitter.com/3pHPs82hI9
— The Recount (@therecount) November 3, 2020
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 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.
