President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court Saturday.
She would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican president, and the third of Trump’s first term in office.
Barrett, 48, was previously confirmed by the US Senate to the federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. Her vote garnered the support of three Democrats, Joe Donnelly, Tim Kaine, and Joe Manchin.
Following President Trump's nomination, both Virginia and North Carolina politicians have reacted to the news. Here are some of the reactions:
Senator Mark Warner:
The Senate should not be considering a Supreme Court nomination before Inauguration Day. https://t.co/Ptc5O2Yf0K
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) September 26, 2020
Senator Tim Kaine
“I’ve said from the beginning that Senator McConnell should follow his own precedent from 2016: this vacancy should be filled by the winner of the ongoing election. I intend to follow that precedent and will not support anyone’s confirmation until we know the election results. There are less than 40 days between now and Election Day, and voting is already underway in Virginia and other states. Given the stakes—health care, fundamental rights, the integrity of the Court—rushing a confirmation vote before the American people have weighed in would be reckless.”
NCOP Chariman Michael Whatley
“President Trump has delivered yet another win for conservatives by picking Amy Coney Barrett, who is extremely qualified and has an ironclad record of defending the constitution,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “We look forward to seeing the Senate, particularly, Sen. Thom Tillis, work with President Trump to fill the seat despite petty, partisan protests from hypocritical Democrats.”
Congressman Bobby Scott
“In 2016, Senate Republicans made a sanctimonious production out of not filling Supreme Court vacancies in an election year when there were over ten months remaining in President Obama’s second term. As people are already voting, Senate Republicans are violating their own established principle without any concern for hypocrisy or fundamental fairness. For over three and a half years, President Trump has been relentless in his attacks on Americans’ access to affordable health care. Last June, during the height of this pandemic, his administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court asking them to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in its entirety. If they are successful then tens of millions of people will lose their health insurance, people with pre-existing conditions will lose their protections, affordability credits will evaporate, and consumer protections will be lost. It is no coincidence that the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the latest case that could tear down the ACA days after the election. As the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, I am also concerned about the right to a public education consistent with Brown v. Board of Education; employees’ rights, including the right to organize and collectively bargain; and protections against discrimination.”
