Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court
So. So. So. Let's. Signs of do. 51-51. So. Um. Oh. America the. Beautiful. Which. Mexico. So. Ladies and gentlemen. The president, of the united, states. And mrs trump. Accompanied, by, judge. Amy, coney barrett. And. Family. So. Thank you very much thank you. Thank you. I stand before you today, to fulfill, one of my highest, and most important, duties. Under the united, states. Constitution. The nomination. Of a supreme. Court. Justice. This is my third such, nomination. After. Justice. Gorsuch. And justice, kavanaugh. And it is a, very proud, moment, indeed. Over the past week our nation has, mourned the loss, of a true. American, legend. Justice. Ruth bader ginsburg, was a legal giant. And a pioneer, for women. Her extraordinary. Life and legacy, will inspire, americans, for generations. To come. Now we gather in the rose garden. To continue, our never, ending, task. Of ensuring. Equal justice. And preserving. The impartial. Rule of law. Today it is my honor to nominate. One of our nation's, most brilliant. And gifted, legal minds. To the supreme, court. She is a woman. Of unparalleled. Achievement. Towering, intellect. Sterling, credentials. And unyielding. Loyalty, to the constitution. Judge. Amy. Coney. Barrett. We're also joined by, amy's husband, jesse. Thank you jesse very much. And their seven beautiful, children, congratulations. To you all. Very special, day. With us as well our. The first lady thank you first. Lady. Along with, vice president, mike pence. And his amazing, wife karen thank you very. Much. Judge barrett is a graduate. Of rhodes college, and, the university, of, notre dame. Law school. At notre dame she earned a full academic, scholarship. Served as the executive. Editor, of the law review. Graduated. First in her class. And received, the law schools, award, for the best record of, scholarship. And achievement. Upon, graduation. She became, a clerk, for judge, lawrence, silberman. On the u.s court of appeals, for the district of columbia. Amy then received, one of the highest honors, a young lawyer could have. Serving, as a clerk on the supreme, court for, justice. Antonin, scalia. A highly. A very, highly respected, law professor. At notre dame wrote. To justice scalia, with, a one sentence. Recommendation. Amy, coney, is the best, student. I ever had that's pretty.
Good. Justice scalia, hired her shortly. Thereafter. And we are honored, to have. His wonderful, wife, maureen. Where is maureen. Maureen scalia. With us. Today. Thank you. And our great. Secretary. Of labor, thank you very much thank you mr secretary. Very good genes, in that family i will say very good chance. Before joining the bench, judge barrett spent 15 years as a professor, at the university, of notre dame law school. She was renowned, for her, scholarship. Celebrated. By her colleagues, and beloved, by her students. Three times she was selected, at notre dame. Distinguished, professor, of the year. When i nominated, judge barrett to serve on the u.s court of appeals, for the 7th, circuit. In, 2017. Every law clerk. From her time at the supreme, court endorsed, her. And endorsed her nomination. Writing, quote we are democrats. Republicans. And independents. Yet we write to support, the nomination. Of professor, barrett. To be a circuit, judge, professor, barrett, is a woman of remarkable. Intellect, and character. She is, eminently, qualified. For the job. And i can tell you i did that too, i looked and i studied, and, you are very, eminently. Qualified, for this job you are going to be fantastic. Thank you, really. Fantastic. Entire, notre dame. Law facility. And faculty. Everybody. Everybody, at that school also. We got so many letters, also wrote. Letters of support, of, amy's, nomination. To the seventh circuit. They wrote, in effect. Despite, our differences, we unanimously. Agree, that our, constitutional. System, depends upon an independent, judiciary. Staffed by talented, people. Devoted, to the fair and impartial, administration. Of the rule of law. And we unanimously. Agree, that amy, is, such, a person. For the last three years judge barrett has served, with immense distinction. On the federal bench. Amy is more than a stellar, scholar, and judge she's also a profoundly. Devoted, mother. Her family, is a core part of who amy, is. She opened, her home. And her heart. And adopted, two, beautiful, children, from haiti. Her incredible, bond with her youngest, child. A son with down syndrome. Is a true inspiration. If confirmed, justice, barrett. Will make history, as the first mother, of, school-aged. Children, ever to serve, on the u.s supreme, court, that's. Good. To her children. Emma. Vivian. Tess. John peter. Liam. Juliet. And benjamin. Thank you for sharing your incredible. Mom. With our country, thank you very much. Amy, coney, barrett, will decide, cases. Based on the text, of the constitution. As written. As amy has said. Being a judge, takes courage. You are not there to decide, cases. As you, may prefer, you are there to do your duty. And to follow the law. Wherever. It may take you. That is exactly, what judge barrett will do on the. U.s supreme, court. I want to thank the members, of the senate we have so many of them here today thank you very much i see you in the audience, and you're so proud. But i want to thank you for your commitment. And to providing, a fair, and timely hearing, i know it will be that. Judge barrett was confirmed, to the circuit court three years ago by a bipartisan. Vote. Her qualifications. Are unsurpassed. Unsurpassed. And her. Record is. Beyond reproach. This should be a straightforward. And, prompt. Confirmation. Should be very easy, good luck. It's going to be very quick. I'm sure it'll be extremely.
Non-controversial. We said that the last time didn't we. Well thank you all very much and thank you for being here that's really great thank you. Thank you. I further urge all members, of the other side of the aisle to provide judge barrett with the respectful, and dignified, hearing, that she, deserves. And frankly, that our country deserves. I urge lawmakers, and members of the media to refrain, from personal, or partisan, attacks, and, the stakes, for, our country, are incredibly. High. Rulings. That the supreme, court will issue in the coming years will. Decide, the survival. Of our second amendment. Our religious, liberty. Our public safety, and so much more. To maintain, security. Liberty and prosperity. We must preserve, our priceless, heritage, of. A nation. Of laws. And there is no one better. To do that. Than amy. Coney. Barrett. Law and order is the foundation. Of the american. System, of justice. No matter the issue no matter the case before her. I am, supremely, confident, that judge barrett. Will issue rulings, based solely, upon. A fair reading of the law. She will defend, the sacred, principle, of equal justice, for citizens, of every race color, religion, and creed. Congratulations. Again to judge barrett. I know that you will make. Our country. Very, very. Proud. Please, amy. Say a few words. Thank you very much. Congratulations. Thank. You. Thank you very much mr president. I am deeply, honored by the confidence, that you have placed in me. And i am so grateful, to you and the first lady. To the vice president, and the second lady. And to so many others here. For your kindness, on this rather overwhelming, occasion. I fully understand, that this is a momentous, decision. For a president. And if the senate does me the honor of confirming, me, i pledge, to discharge, the responsibilities. Of this job to the very best of my ability. I love the united, states, and i love the united states, constitution. I am truly. I am truly humbled by the prospect, of serving, on the supreme, court. Should i be confirmed. I will be mindful. Of who came before me. The flag, of the united, states, is still flying, at half-staff. In memory of justice, ruth bader ginsburg. To mark the end of a great american, life. Justice, ginsburg, began, her career, at a time when women were not welcome in the legal profession. But she not only, broke glass ceilings. She smashed, them. For that, she has won the admiration. Of women, across, the country. And indeed. All over the. World. She was a woman of enormous, talent, and consequence. And her life of public service, serves as an example, to us all. Particularly. Poignant, to me. Was her long, and deep friendship, with justice, antonin, scalia. My own mentor. Justices, scalia. And ginsburg. Disagreed. Fiercely. In print. Without, rancor in person. Their ability, to maintain, a warm, and rich, friendship. Despite, their differences. Even inspired, an opera. These two great americans. Demonstrated. That arguments. Even about matters, of great consequence. Need not destroy, affection. In both my personal, and professional, relationships. I strive to meet that standard. I was lucky enough to clerk for justice scalia. And given his incalculable. Influence, on my life. I am very moved to have members, of the scalia, family here today. Including his dear wife maureen. I clerked for justice scalia, more than 20 years ago. But the lessons, i learned, still resonate. His judicial, philosophy. Is mine too. A judge, must apply the law, as written. Judges are not policy, makers. And they must be resolute. And setting aside, any policy, views they might hold. The president, has asked me to become the ninth justice. And as it happens. I'm used to being in a group of nine, my family. Our family includes, me. My husband jesse. Emma. Vivian, tess gent peter. Liam. Juliet, and benjamin. Vivian, and john peter as the president, said were born in haiti and they came to us, five years apart, when they were very young.
And The most revealing, fact about benjamin, our youngest, is that his brothers and sisters, unreservedly. Identify, him as their favorite sibling. Our children, obviously make our life very full. While i am a judge, i'm better known back home as a room parent. Carpool, driver, and birthday party planner. When schools went remote, last spring i tried on another hat. Jessie and i became co-principals. Of the barrett e-learning, academy. And yes the list of enrolled students, was a very long one. Our children, are my greatest joy, even though they deprive, me of any reasonable, amount of sleep. I couldn't manage, this very full life. Without the unwavering. Support, of my husband jesse. At the start of our marriage, i imagine that we would run our household, as partners. As it has turned out. Jesse does far more than his share of the. Work. To my chagrin. I learned at dinner recently, that my children, consider him to be the better cook. For 21, years jesse has asked me every single morning, what he can do for me that, day. And though i almost, always say, nothing. He still finds ways to take things off my plate. And that's not because he has a lot of free time, he has a busy law practice. It's because he is a superb. And generous, husband. And i am very fortunate. Jesse. Jesse and i have a life, full, of relationships. Not only with our children. But with siblings. Friends. And fearless, babysitters. One of whom is with us today. I am particularly. Grateful. To my parents. Mike and linda coney. I spent the bulk of i have spent the bulk of my adulthood. As a midwesterner. But i grew up in their new orleans home. And as my brother, and sisters, can also attest. Mom and dad's generosity. Extends, not only to us. But to more people than any of us could count. They are an inspiration. It is important. At a moment, like this to acknowledge. Family, and friends. But this evening i also want to acknowledge, you, my fellow americans. The president, has nominated. Me to serve on the united states, supreme, court. And that institution. Belongs, to all of us. If confirmed. I would not assume, that role for the sake of those in my own circle. And certainly, not for my own sake. I would assume, this role to serve you. I would discharge, the judicial, oath. Which requires, me to administer, justice, without, respect.
To Persons. Do equal, right, to the poor and rich. And faithfully, and impartially. Discharge, my duties, under the united, states constitution. I have no illusions, that the road ahead of me will be easy, either for the short term, or the long haul. I never, imagined, that i would find myself, in this position. But now that i am. I assure you that i will meet the challenge. With both humility. And courage. Members of the united states senate, i look forward to working with you during the confirmation. Process. And i will do my very best to demonstrate, that i am worthy of your support. Thank you. Come on up family. Come on up him. I want to acknowledge. Attorney, general bill barr bill thank you very much for being here, chief of staff, thank you very much chief doing a great job. And, all of the senators, please. We really appreciate, it and i know you're going to have a busy couple of weeks but. I think it's going to be easier than you might think, so, thank you very much for being here thank you all thank you all very much. Thank you. Congratulations. Amy. Okay we'll go. Thank. You. So. My.
2020-10-01 10:47
