US President Trump has spoken to Amy Coney Barrett in the White House. The conservative judge is seen as the main contender every Friday passed away Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Trump is expected to nominate Ginsburg’s successor before the end of the week. Ginsburg was known for being a progressive and a champion of women’s rights. Respected in both Republican and Democratic circles, she had the last wish that her succession would be arranged after the presidential election and subsequent inauguration in January. The Democrats also argue for that.
Hurry with appointment
But Trump is hastening the appointment. As sitting president and with a Republican majority in the Senate, the Republicans have free rein when it comes to choosing the new judge. If Democratic presidential candidate Biden wins the election in November, that advantage will disappear from Biden’s inauguration in January.
Never has a seat in the Supreme Court been vacated so shortly before the election.
Incidentally, it is not yet certain whether Trump has enough support within his own party for a quick appointment. Republicans occupy 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate. Two Republicans have already said they see nothing in the hasty appointment of a new judge for the election.
The Supreme Court is an important body in the US, as it often has a casting vote on controversial laws. In this way, the court determines the course of the country around themes such as abortion or the death penalty. Furthermore, judges are appointed for life, allowing them to influence Supreme Court judgments for a long time.
Conservative majority
If Trump succeeds in appointing a judge, it would mean appointing a judge to the nine-member Supreme Court for the third time in his term. Since the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, the conservative judges elected by Republicans have already held the majority.
Trump did say he plans to speak with multiple candidate judges. He also emphasized that he wanted to appoint a woman. Alongside Amy Coney Barrett, the names of Barbara Lagoa (judge and daughter of Cuban exiles), Joan Larsen (Michigan Supreme Court Justice) and young Judge Allison Jones Rushing will be singing. At 38, Rushing could become the youngest Supreme Court judge since 1812.
But 48-year-old Barrett emerged as a favorite for the position early on. She is particularly loved in Republican Party conservative circles as a stern Catholic and fierce opponent of abortion. Two years ago, she was also seen as a contender to serve on the Supreme Court following the retirement of Judge Anthony Kennedy.
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