Democrats Express Fears at US SC Nominee Barrett’s Senate Hearing

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett used for representation purpose.

(Photo: The White House/Twitter) 

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, on Tuesday, 13 October, presented her approach to the law as conservative and fair while Democrats cast her as a threat to Americans’ health care coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, reported AP.

According to Reuters, Democrats expressed their opposition, despite little hope of derailing Barrett’s nomination, as the Senate Judiciary Committee commenced its four-day confirmation hearing for Barrett.

According to Republican senators, Barrett, and appellate court judge and a favourite of religious conservatives, was a worthy successor of the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, reported Reuters.

Barrett, according to Reuters, wore a black protective face mask, which she removed to deliver her opening statement. Further, Barrett, reportedly said:

“I believe Americans of all backgrounds deserve an independent Supreme Court that interprets our Constitution and laws as they are written.”   

With Barrett’s confirmation, there would be a 6-3 conservative majority in the US Supreme Court. According to Reuters, this development, among other things, could roll back abortion rights, expand religious and gun-rights, and uphold Republican-backed voting restrictions.

However, Reuters reported that the fate of the ex-US President Barack Obama’s signature medical coverage policy, the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), often dubbed Obamacare, was the focus of the Democrats.

Barrett had previously criticised a ruling that upheld Obamacare.

Speaking via a video link, Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris said:

“I do believe this hearing is a clear attempt to jam through a Supreme Court nominee who will take away healthcare from millions of people during a deadly pandemic that has already killed more than 214,000 Americans.”   

(With inputs from AP and Reuters.)