Confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barret Pledges Impartiality At White House Ceremony
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Amy Coney Barrett pledged Monday to carry out her duties as a Supreme Court justice “without any fear or favor” toward the other branches of government or her own beliefs.
She spoke moments after Justice Clarence Thomas administered the constitutional oath swearing in Judge Barrett at an outdoor ceremony at the White House
Chief Justice John Roberts was set to administer a second oath — known as the judicial oath — to the former federal appeals court judge at a private ceremony at the court on Tuesday.
A crowd, including several Republican senators, gathered on the South Lawn shortly after the divided Senate confirmed her as the 115th justice on the Supreme Court mainly along party lines
Addressing the outdoor audience, Barrett tried to play down the fear of Democrats that she would be a biased justice.
NO POLICY PREFERENCES
She said it’s the job of a judge to “resist her policy preferences,” claiming it would be a “dereliction of duty” to give in to them. Barrett stressed she lives by the constitution and that she would do her job “independently of the political branches and my own preferences.”
Her confirmation came as another boost for U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who faces re-election on November 3. ”It’s a momentous day for America, the United States Constitution, and for the fair and impartial rule of law, ” he said at the beginning of the ceremony on the South Lawn.
”The Constitution is the ultimate defense of American liberty, the faithful application of the law is the cornerstone of our republic. That is why, as president, I have no more solemn obligation of no greater honor than to appoint Supreme Court justices,” President Trump added.
He called her ”one of our nation’s most brilliant legal scholars, and she will make an outstanding justice on the highest court in our land.”
Trump noted that ”Justice Barrett’s oath will be administered by the court’s longest-serving member, currently on the bench, a man whose allegiance to the law has earned him the respect and gratitude of all Americans — Justice Clarence Thomas.”
FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED
The full Senate, who worked through a rare weekend session, voted 52-48, mainly along party lines, to confirm Barrett onto the Supreme Court.
Face coverings were required for all those attending the sworn-in ceremony, a senior White House official said in a statement.
The seated audience was socially distanced on the South Lawn, as the United States still faces coronavirus pandemic.
Following the ceremony, a broadly smiling President Trump and Justice Barrett appeared on the balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
They were accompanied by the First Lady Melania Trump and the justice’s husband, Jesse Barrett.
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