Who Is Amy Coney Barrett?

             My VIP for this week is Amy Coney Barrett. She is a U.S. Circuit Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is also the first and only women to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is 48 years old, pro-life, and a faithful Catholic. She is married and the mother of seven children, two of which were adopted from Haiti.

            Barrett was nominated by President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 26, 2020, to the seat left open by the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. By all accounts, she is brilliant and an excellent choice for the seat.

            Growing up in Louisiana, Barrett went to law school at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1997. Five years later she returned to Notre Dame (2002) where she taught federal courts, constitutional law, and statutory interpretation. She was named a professor of law in 2010. She received a “distinguished professor of the year” award in 2010 and 2016. While at Notre Dame, she belonged to the conservative legal group, the Federalist Society. 

            Apparently, Barrett is the nightmare for all liberals no matter their party. She is staunchly pro-life and believes that life begins at conception. She is also a constitutionalist. In addition, she is the mother of a child with Downs Syndrome. While many women would have aborted such a child, Barrett chose to give the child life and love. It goes without saying that Barrett’s personal views are different than that of the two women currently serving on the Supreme Court. Therefore, she has much to add to discussions. However, she has affirmed that her personal views as a Catholic and pro-life woman will not influence her constitutional decisions.