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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 13 OcTOber 2020
Barrett vows to interpret laws 'as they are written'

By MARK SHERMAN, LISA pick, which would put her
MASCARO and MARY on the bench for any elec-
CLARE JALONICK tion-related challenges.
Associated Press Democrats are trying in
WASHINGTON (AP) — Su- vain to delay the fast-track
preme Court nominee Amy confirmation by raising
Coney Barrett declared fresh concerns about the
Monday that Americans safety of meeting during
"deserve an independent the pandemic after two
Supreme Court that inter- GOP senators on the panel
prets our Constitution and tested positive for the novel
laws as they are written," coronavirus.
encapsulating her conser- Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah,
vative approach to the law one of those who tested
that has Republicans ex- positive, was in the hear-
cited about the prospect ing room Monday after his
of her taking the place of spokesman said he was
the late Justice Ruth Bader symptom-free. The other
Ginsbur g before Election affected senator, Thom Tillis
Day. of North Carolina, was par-
Barrett spoke about her ju- ticipating remotely, though
dicial philosophy, her expe- he too is symptom-free, his
rience and her large family spokesman said. Both test-
at the end of the first day Sen Mike Lee, R-Utah, talks with Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., behind Sen. Charles Grassley, ed positive 10 days ago.
of her fast-tracked confir- R-Iowa, before the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett at the Trump chose Barrett after
Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.
mation hearings that Sen- Associated Press the death last month of
ate Democrats are using to Ginsburg, a liberal icon. It's
try and brand her a threat nomination puts in jeop- 10. Barrett has criticized the past leadership role in a the opportunity to entrench
to Americans' health care ardy everything Ginsburg court's two earlier major rul- Catholic faith community a conservative majority on
during the coronavirus fought to protect. ings supporting the law. pose a challenge for Dem- the court for years to come
pandemic. Testifying from her office Among Republicans, Sen. ocrats as they try to probe with his third justice.
After sitting in silence because of the pandem- Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, her judicial approach to Outside groups are push-
through nearly four hours ic, Harris said that not only dismissed warnings Barrett abortion, gay marriage ing Democrats to make a
of opening statements health care but voting will undo the Obama-era and other social issues with- strong case against what
from members of the Sen- rights, workers' rights, abor- healthcare law as "outra- out veering into inappropri- they call an illegitimate
ate Judiciary Committee, tion rights and the very geous." ate questions of her faith. confirmation, when people
the 48-year-old federal idea of justice are at stake. Trump himself seemed to The Senate Judiciary Com- are already voting in some
appeals court judge laid Republicans called Barrett be watching, tweeting sev- mittee, meeting on a fed- states, saying the winner
out her approach to the a thoughtful judge with im- eral times about the hear- eral holiday, kicked off four of the presidency should
bench, which she has lik- peccable credentials. ing. In one message, he days of statements and tes- make the pick. No Supreme
ened to that of her conser- Barring a dramatic devel- tweeted that he'd have a timony in an environment Court justice has ever been
vative mentor, the late Jus- opment, Republicans ap- "FAR BETTER" health care that has been altered by confirmed so close to a
tice Antonin Scalia. pear to have the votes to plan, with lower costs and the coronavirus pandemic. presidential contest.
"Courts have a vital respon- confirm her to a lifetime protections for pre-existing Some senators were tak- Faith and family punctuat-
sibility to the rule of rule of seat on the Supreme Court. conditions. But he has not, ing part remotely, and the ed her testimony, and she
law, which is critical to a If she is confirmed quickly, as yet, discussed an actual hearing room itself was ar- said she would bring "a few
free society. But courts are she could be on the court health care plan. ranged with health con- new perspectives" as the
not designed to solve ev- when it hears the latest Republicans also warned cerns in mind. first mother of school-age
ery problem or right every challenge to the Afford- against making Barrett's Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- children on the nine-mem-
wrong in our public life," able Care Act, a week af- Catholicism an issue in the S.C., opened the hearing ber court.
Barrett said in a statement ter the election. confirmation debate, es- acknowledging "the CO- Barrett said she uses her
she delivered after remov- One after another, Demo- pecially in regard to her VID problem in America is children as a test when de-
ing the protective mask she crats sought to tie her nom- stance on abortion, with real." But he said, "We do ciding cases, asking herself
wore most of the day. ination to the upcoming Sen. Josh Hawley of Mis- have a country that needs how she would view the
"The policy decisions and court case. souri lambasting what to move forward safely." decision if one of her seven
value judgments of govern- "Health care coverage for he called a "pattern and Graham acknowledged children were the party she
ment must be made by the millions of Americans is at practice of religious big- the obvious: "This is going was ruling against.
political branches elected stake with this nomination," otry" by Democrats. How- to be a long, contentious "Even though I would not
by and accountable to the said Sen. Dianne Feinstein ever, Democratic senators week." like the result, would I un-
people. The public should of California, the commit- made clear in advance of Protesters rallied outside derstand that the decision
not expect courts to do so, tee's senior Democrat. the hearing that they didn't the Senate buildings with was fairly reasoned and
and courts should not try,." Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, plan to question the judge the hearing room largely grounded in the law?" she
She told senators that she D-R.I., said the nomina- on the specifics of her reli- closed to the public. Capi- said.
is "forever grateful" for Gins- tion is a "judicial torpedo gious faith. tol Police said 22 people The hearing followed a
burg's trailblazing path as a aimed" at the law's protec- Democratic presidential were arrested and charged White House event an-
woman on the court. tion for people with pre- nominee Biden, also a on suspicion of crowding, nouncing her nomination
Yet Sen. Kamala Harris, existing health conditions practicing Catholic, told obstructing or other viola- just over two weeks ago,
Democratic presidential among its provisions. The reporters ahead of a cam- tions. in which most of the audi-
nominee Joe Biden's run- Trump administration wants paign trip to Ohio that he Republicans are moving at ence did not wear masks.
ning mate, said the court the court to strike down the doesn't think "there's any a breakneck pace to seat The event has been la-
is "often the last refuge for entire law popularly known question about her faith." Barrett before the Nov. 3 beled a "superspreader" for
equal justice" and a Barrett as "Obamacare" on Nov. Barrett's religious views and election to secure Trump's the coronavirus. q