Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court just days before the election. Republicans voted 52-48 to approve Barrett. Senator Susan Collins was the only Republican who voted against Trump’s pick.
The appointment of the 48-year-old Republican and devout Catholic has already been the topic of controversy, with Democrats protesting that the winner of the presidential election should choose the winner. Barrett will fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away in September. She will be the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court and the third appointed by Donald Trump. Barrett was sworn in Monday night, which means that she will most likely begin to hear cases including a challenge to the Affordable Care Act next week. Barrett will still need to take the judicial oath, which will likely take place on Tuesday.
Barrett’s new position could be a threat to women’s rights. Her prior anti-abortion writings have led many to believe that the 1973 decision to legalize women’s right to terminate their pregnancies could be overruled under her.
Trump said that the victory marked a “momentous day” for the country.
