Dems React to Selection of Judge Barrett

From celebrities to public officials have all spoken out recently on the selection of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court Justice. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court:

“Just because Judge Barrett is a woman doesn’t mean she’s a champion of women’s rights. In fact, Judge Barrett has a long history of opposing women’s constitutional right to reproductive care and to control what happens to their own body.”

Barrett, 48, has written and spoken about women’s reproductive rights in the past. During an appearance at Jacksonville University in Florida shortly before the 2016 election, while a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. Barrett was asked about ways a hypothetical future Supreme Court might allow states to pass more restrictions on abortion.

“I think don’t think the core case – Roe’s core holding that, you know, women have a right to an abortion – I don’t think that would change. But I think the question of whether people can get very late-term abortions, how many restrictions can be put on clinics – I think that would change,” Barrett said at the time.

Besides her far-right views on abortion rights, many people are outraged at how the Trump administration has chosen to select a new Justice, regardless of the fact that there is an upcoming presidential election.

“The rush to jam through a nominee while a presidential election is underway, breaks the commitments of a number of Senators and is an irresponsible dereliction of the Senate’s duty to vet nominees carefully. There is so much at stake at this moment, including public confidence in the Supreme Court and the rule of law itself,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Similarly, major LGBTQ+ organizations such as PFLAG have released statements expressing concerns about the newly appointed Justice. Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National, called on Senators to not confirm Barrett’s nomination until after Inauguration Day.

“Speaking as a gay man, an HIV+ person, and a Catholic, the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a defender of discrimination in the name of religion, is a direct threat to the rights of LGBTQ+ people like me and to many of the people that I love. To ensure the voices of We the People are heard—even as we cast our ballots and play our part in this important decision—PFLAGers everywhere call on our Senators not to consider a nominee until after Inauguration Day.”