Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court hearings conclude, paving way for confirmation days before election

WASHINGTON – Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearings finished Thursday, concluding four days of hearings as Republicans map out a clear path to placing her on the high court before Election Day.

Over the week, senators peppered Barrett with questions about her judicial philosophy and views on abortion, voting rights, the Affordable Care Act and global warming, controversial issues that could come before the court. Barrett dodged answering many inquiries that dealt with contentious issues – frustrating Democratic senators hoping to derail her confirmation – while vowing to keep an open mind on any issue that comes before the Supreme Court.

Throughout Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard personal and emotional testimony from some of Barrett's former colleagues and advocates who could be affected by Barrett's confirmation to the high court.

Barrett's confirmation requires approval by majorities of the committee and the full Senate, both of which are controlled by Republicans.

The panel will meet once more – Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. – to officially vote on Barrett's confirmation. After the committee approves her nomination, which is likely to pass in a 12-10 party-line vote, the full Senate will consider her.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the chamber will bring up her nomination on Oct. 23, leaving a final vote on her confirmation likely to happen the week of Oct. 26, the week before the Nov. 3 election.

Thursday's hearing started off contentious, with Democratic senators attempting to halt the hearings, an effort squashed by the Republican majority. Democrats again slammed the proceedings for being rushed in the middle of a presidential election and global pandemic, repeating the Democratic stance that the next president should choose justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the high court. Republicans vowed to move ahead on President Donald Trump's nominee.

Despite the early drama, moods were more measured later in the day. Senators on both sides thanked one another for their conduct during the proceedings as the proceedings ended.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the panel, thanked Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for his "fairness" during the hearings and praised the process. "This has been one of the best Senate hearings I have ever participated in," she said at the conclusion of Thursday's hearing.

Graham said "that means a lot to me" and called Feinstein a "joy to work with."

"I don't think anybody crossed the line with the judge in terms of trying to demean her as a person," Graham said of conduct during the hearings, thanking senators on both sides.

Senators hear personal stories

After hearing from the American Bar Association about Barrett's qualifications for the Supreme Court, senators heard testimony from some of Barrett's former colleagues and advocates who shed light on what her confirmation could mean to the future of health care.

Members of the panel shared personal stories about Barrett's dedication and emotional anecdotes from stakeholders on the importance of the Affordable Care Act, voting rights and a woman's right to an abortion.

Barrett’s former law clerk Amanda Rauh-Bieri described her former boss as “a sharp legal mind” and a “brilliant thinker.”

“Judge Barrett is dedicated and disciplined and as a judge, she is committed above all else to the rule of law,” she told senators. “As she has said, and as I have seen, Judge Barret understands that policy decisions must be left to the political branches. The role of the judge is to enforce the law as written.”

Rauh-Bieri added that Barrett "would be a role model for generations to come.”

But witnesses testifying on behalf of Democrats painted a different portrait of Barrett, highlighting all the laws and protections that could be in danger should she be confirmed and allow the court a 6-3 conservative lean.

Stacy Staggs, a mother to two 7-year-old twins who were born premature, told the panel that she relies on the Affordable Care Act for protections for her children. "A vote for Judge Barrett is a vote to take away health care” and strike down “the law that saved the lives of my daughters," she said.

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, medical director of Care Free Medical clinic in Michigan, also testified about the importance of the health care law, telling senators that "any judge who opposes the ACA endangers a lifeline that my patients count on to stay healthy.”

The Supreme Court will take up a challenge to the Obama-era health care law in November. Democrats fear a conservative majority could undo the provision.

Committee shoots down attempt to halt Barrett nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee, in a party-line 10-12 vote, shot down a Democratic attempt to stop Barrett's Supreme Court nomination from moving forward Thursday.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the process a "sham" and demanded it be "indefinitely" postponed during the fourth and final day of confirmation hearings.

"In your hearts, you know that what's happening here is not right. It's not normal," Blumenthal said in a plea to Republicans on the panel. "The real people eventually will judge us. History will haunt this raw exercise of political power."

Democrats have complained that Barrett's nomination is being rushed through in order to confirm her to the high court before Election Day – when both the Senate majority and White House are up for grabs.

"We do grave damage to the Supreme Court by politicizing it in this way," Blumenthal said.