We have witnessed history as Justice Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as the newest member of the Supreme Court. For several days, the Senate grilled her on every legal and political topic imaginable. And for over 20 hours, she skillfully answered question after question, showcasing a startling breadth of legal understanding, without relying on a single note! It is hard to imagine anyone more qualified or prepared for this critical role.
It was 1993 when Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed by the Judiciary Committee, chaired at the time by then-Senator Joe Biden. Senator Biden set this clear ground rule at the beginning of her hearings: Ginsburg had no obligation to answer any questions about her own political views or about any issue that could come before the Court. This has since become known as “the Ginsburg Rule.”
In what will one day be remembered as a moment of supreme historical irony, during these hearings to replace Justice Ginsburg, Democrats repeatedly attempted to coerce Barrett into violating the very “Ginsburg Rule” that Biden himself established. Of course, she did not fall for the trap. Instead she showcased a cool temperament and level of intellectual brilliance that was, in a word, judicial.
There’s one thing I can say with certainty: the Court is in good hands.
In her swearing in speech, Justice Barrett stated: “The oath I have solemnly taken tonight means at its core that I will do my job without any fear or favor and that I will do so independently of both the political branches and of my own preferences. I love the Constitution and the Democratic Republic it establishes, and I will devote myself to preserving it.”
Her commitment to act “without any fear or favor” is breathtakingly powerful. There is, perhaps, no greater qualification we could ever ask for of a member of the highest court in the land than one who can truly act “without fear or favor.”
On a personal note, it is becoming increasingly rare in American political discourse to hear someone utter the words with which she concluded her speech: “I love the Constitution.”
Like Justice Barrett, I too love our Constitution, and celebrate the swearing in of one who feels likewise. It is truly my hope that this coming week Americans will elect public officials that share that sentiment. My friends, yesterday was a good day for our country, and a great day for our Constitution.
