by Jordan Green, News Editor
Both of Oklahoma’s U.S. senators have rallied behind President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18.
“I look forward to meeting Judge Barrett and considering her nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy,” Sen. James Lankford said in a news release. “Her distinguished professional resume includes a law degree from University of Notre Dame, clerking for Justice Antonin Scalia, teaching law at her alma mater, and serving on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a dedicated mother of seven, a wife, and a person of strong faith. She is clearly well prepared for the task. Her education, experience and personal convictions all play an important role in her judicial philosophy as a strict constructionist.
“The Senate confirmed her nomination for the Seventh Circuit three years ago, so a great deal of the background work on her judicial philosophy has already been done. I supported her nomination in 2017 for the Court of Appeals, and I look forward to working through the process of advice and consent for the highest court in the land.”
“President Trump made the right choice by choosing Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court,” Sen. Jim Inhofe said in a news release.
“Throughout her career, Judge Barrett has shown her commitment to upholding the Constitution. She has a long record of upholding the right to life, respecting religious liberty and respecting judicial restraint. I look forward to receiving her nomination in the Senate and confirming her in a swift manner.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said he will “strongly oppose” Barrett’s nomination.
“The American people should make no mistake—a vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions,” Schumer said in a news release. “By nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, President Trump has once again put Americans’ healthcare in the crosshairs.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, unabated by this Administration, healthcare was already the number one issue on the ballot in November. President Trump has promised to nominate Supreme Court Justices who will “terminate” our health care law and decimate the health care system for American Indians and Alaska Natives. In Judge Barrett, President Trump has found the deciding vote.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, praised Barrett as an “exceptionally impressive” judge.
“First, Judge Barrett built a reputation as a brilliant scholar at the forefront of the legal academy,” McConnell said in a news release. “Then she answered the call to public service. For three years on the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, she has demonstrated exactly the independence, impartiality, and fidelity to our laws and Constitution that Americans need and deserve on their highest Court.
“The Senate will evaluate this nomination on the basis of Judge Barrett’s objective qualifications. But it cannot escape notice that this nominee has also already won national admiration for her shining example of strong female leadership at the very top of her field. As our nation continues to mourn Justice Ginsburg and honor her trail-blazing legacy, it does seem fitting that another brilliant and talented woman at the height of their shared profession would follow in her footsteps onto the Court.
“I look forward to meeting with the nominee next week and will carefully study her record and credentials. As I have stated, this nomination will receive a vote on the Senate floor in the weeks ahead, following the work of the Judiciary Committee supervised by Chairman Graham.
“The Court, the Senate, and the American people — not to mention the nominee and her family — deserve a fair process that is focused on Judge Barrett’s qualifications. I hope all 100 Senators will treat this serious process with the dignity and respect it should command.”