Are women’s reproductive rights on the line?

 

Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings began on Oct. 12 and ended on Oct. 15. Barrett was asked about her stance on same-sex marriage, immigration, landmark health cases.

 

Shortly following the news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, new conversations arose regarding who shall replace her. Trump wasted no time in nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacant spot.
Barrett is a federal judge and former Notre Dame law professor. Barrett has been at the top of Trump’s list for some time now. In 2016, she was one of the finalists for President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination which ultimately ended up going to Brett Kavanaugh.

One of the biggest talking points that came up was Barrett’s political ideologies. Barrett shares the same conservative beliefs as her mentor, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Barrett is extremely opposed to abortions, and has criticized Roe V. Wade in the past. In 2013, in her university magazine she explained how she believed that life begins at conception. This connects to her opinion on abortions being morally wrong.

Judge Barrett and her family are also members of a group called People of Praise. The group teaches the members that husbands are the heads of their households and should take authority of the family. People of Praise has been compared to a fictional book called The Handmaid’s Tale.

It takes place in a society where women are forced to birth and raise children- these women are called handmaids.
Many fear that Barrett will make extreme decisions that will negatively affect women’s reproductive rights.
Another issue with Barrett is her views on healthcare.

She’s made it clear that she is against the Affordable Care Act. She had criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for allowing Congress to uphold large portions of the ACA.

President Trump has also stated that he is looking for a Justice that will get rid of the Affordable Care Act.
Without the ACA, millions of Americans will be uninsured. The ACA allows for Americans to stay on their parents health insurance until they turn 26.

If the ACA were to be removed, it would mean that 18 year old’s would potentially be uninsured. This would also affect Americans that receive healthcare from their jobs.

Barrett’s views completely go against what Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for. Ginsburg had made huge strides forward for gender equality, women’s rights and so much more.
Barrett’s nomination is extremely unethical and it’s an abuse of power.

In 2016, the Senate kept Obama from nominating Merrick Garland nine months before the election. Yet, President Trump can do it despite the election being weeks away.

Barrett will create huge setbacks due to her views and inability to separate church and state. Barrett is not the right person for this position and it’s been made very clear.

Judge Barrett’s rulings on the Seventh Circuit Court made it apparent that she has little regard for the working class and for justice. She’s made rulings that negatively affected immigrants, people of color and the poor.
A letter written by alumni at Barret’s undergraduate school was posted online and was signed by 1,513 alumni. The letter criticized Barrett’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community, the ACA and abortion laws.

She even stated that it’s reasonable for police officers to stop and harass a group of black men out of speculation.
“Amy Coney Barrett does not have the best interest for those who aren’t white and wealthy,” junior Hana Wasuge said. “She’s already made decisions in the past that show her true character and values. This is not the type of person that we need in the Supreme Court.”

Jude Barrett’s qualifications are not enough to give her a seat on the Supreme Court. Her views are extremely far-right and it will displace the balance. Her rulings will be unfavorable due to her conservative beliefs.

Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court was a mistake. Conservatives just want to have leverage on the Supreme Court by nominating a far right judge. Her nomination is an insult to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and should not be supported.