After a week of speculation, President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his nomination for the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And the name President Trump has put forth is that of Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the federal appeals court.
The President’s announcement was made from the White House Rose Garden, where Mr. Trump referred to Judge Barrett as “one of the nation’s most brilliant and gifted minds.”
The President went on to say of Judge Barrett, “She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the constitution.”
Judge Barrett was born and raised in Louisiana, and now resides in South Bend, Indiana. She is a 1997-graduate of Notre Dame Law School, where she finished first in her class, as well as acting as editor of the school’s law review. In 2002, Judge Barrett began teaching at Notre Dame. According to Notre Dame’s website, she has been named ‘Distinguished Professor of the Year’ by three different graduating classes. In October 2017, Judge Barrett was confirmed as a judge on the federal appeals court for the Seventh Circuit.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issued a statement on Saturday, September 26 praising the President’s nomination.
“My sincere congratulations go out to President Trump on an outstanding selection for the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s career is proof that she is committed to upholding our constitution and the rule of law,” Gov. Justice said. “I want to thank Senator Capito for her commitment to considering this nomination based upon her merits. I also want to encourage Senator Manchin to support this excellent selection by our President, Donald J. Trump.”
W.Va. State’s Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was also supportive of the President’s nomination.
In a statement released by his office on Saturday, the state’s top legal official said, “Judge Barrett is a fantastic pick by President Trump. She brings a wealth of wisdom and judicial experience to the Supreme Court. She is a respected scholar, a highly-qualified jurist and a principled woman of faith. Judge Barrett is also a working wife and mother who understands issues facing everyday working men and women.”
“With her appointment, President Trump has made yet another great pick. From the start, he pledged to appoint judges and justices who interpret the law for what it actually says and not what they might like it to say,” Morrisey said. “We are confident the future Justice Barrett will also defend against such judicial overreach. I urge the senate to put aside partisanship, give Judge Barrett swift consideration and confirm someone who obviously has the qualifications to sit on out nation’s highest bench.”
However, not all of West Virginia’s elected officials were happy about the President’s speedy-nomination.
“As West Virginia’s Senator, I have always taken my constitutional obligation to advise and consent on a nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy extremely seriously. I will review Judge Coney Barrett’s legal qualifications and judicial philosophy just as I have done with every Supreme Court nominee that has come before the Senate During my time as a Senator,” said W.Va. Senator Joe Manchin. “Rushing to confirm a Supreme Court nominee weeks before a Presidential election has never been done before in the history of our nation and it will only fan the flames of division at a time when our country is deeply divided. I cannot support a process that risks further division of the American people at a time when we desperately need to come together. I will not vote to confirm Judge Coney Barrett or any Supreme Court nominee before election day on November 3rd. I urge my Republican friends to slow down, put people before politics, and give their constituents a chance to vote.”
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