Supreme Court: Amy Coney Barrett Vows to Judge Legal Cases Impartially

By Dana Cruz First Posted: Oct 11, 2020 09:58 PM EDT

A Supreme Court confirmation could come before Election Day, said Senator Lindsey Graham, and nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett vowed to follow the law "as written."

President Trump Announces His Supreme Court Nominee To Replace Justice Ginsburg

(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Seventh U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett looks on while being introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump as his nominee to the Supreme Court during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House September 26, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Graham, who is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, predicted Barrett's confirmation will be held no later than October 27, said FOX News. This date is only a week before the elections, so a new justice may come to the high court before November 3.

As the predicted Supreme Court confirmation date draws near, Barrett vowed she will judge legal cases impartially, BBC reported. She said she will perform her duties as a justice "whatever my own preferences may be."

Barrett faces a four-day confirmation hearing in the Senate next week, where she is expected to tell senators that she will approach cases based on law, not her personal views.

"We'll come back holding over a week and vote her out of committee on October the 22nd," Graham said. He added that the Senate can "easily get her confirmed before the election."

Opening Remarks Released in Advance

According to The Guardian, Barrett's opening remarks on Monday includes a statement that courts "should not try" to create policy.

Barrett, a conservative jurist known for opposing abortion rights, is under a high-stakes confirmation hearing. But if she is approved for the role, she will replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died recently at 87 years old.

Ginsburg has been a known to champion abortion rights as a constitutional right, making Barrett's nomination politically controversial.

Should Barrett be confirmed, the Supreme Court will also have a conservative hold with a 6-3 majority. This could mean an ideological shift for what could be decades to come.

Paying Tribute to Scalia

Also during her opening statement, Barrett will focus on how her family influenced her nomination to the Supreme Court. She also recognized the influence of her mentor, late Justice Antonin Scalia in her practice of law, CNN reported.

Working as a clerk for Scalia, Barrett will say that his "reasoning" has shaped her.

"A judge must apply the law as written, not as the judge wishes it were," an advanced copy of the statement read.

Barrett also aims to maintain the same perspective as Scalia.

Concerns with Barrett's Nomination

Democrats are concerned that, with Barrett's conservative background, she would favor Republicans in politically sensitive cases that reach the high court.

They urged Barrett to distance herself from cases that involve the November 3 election and the upcoming challenge to Obamacare.

According to the Democrats, voting on these cases while she was nominated during Trump's reelection campaign would not be ethical.

Democrats have tried to delay Barrett's confirmation hearings. Reasons for this are the coming election and the coronavirus pandemic.

On the other hand, Republicans are rushing to have her confirmed before the Election Day. Having Barrett in the high court could work to their advantage for the same reasons Democrats are worried about her nomination.

On top of that, there is also a clear rush to confirm Barrett because, if Democrat Joe Biden wins the election, Barrett's nomination will likely hit roadblocks.