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[Pages S6307-S6308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, last week, the Judiciary Committee held
its hearing on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination, and it was easy to
see why Judge Barrett is held in such high regard by her colleagues,
students, and peers and why the American Bar Association gave her its
highest rating of ``well qualified.''
We knew long before the hearing that Judge Barrett possesses an
extraordinary intelligence and a comprehensive command of the law. But
over 3 days of testimony, Americans got to see her qualifications for
themselves, and they saw why she has been described as ``a jurist of
formidable intellect,'' a ``brilliant and conscientious lawyer,'' and
``a staggering academic mind.'' Even the Democratic ranking member on
the committee, the senior Senator from California, couldn't hide the
fact that she was impressed.
Most importantly, however, Americans saw that Judge Barrett
understands the proper role of a judge in our system of government. As
Judge Barrett made clear, she understands that the job of a judge is to
interpret the law, not to make the law; to call balls and strikes, not
to rewrite the rules of the game; or, as Judge Barrett said to the
Democrat whip at the hearing last week: ``I apply the law. I follow the
law. You make policy.''
Judge Barrett has made it clear that when cases come before her on
the Supreme Court, she will consider the facts, the law, and the
Constitution, and nothing else--not her personal beliefs, not her
political opinions, just the law and the Constitution. That is the kind
of Justice that all of us--Democrat or Republican, liberal or
conservative--should want.
I could spend hours highlighting all the extraordinary tributes to
Judge Barrett that have poured in since her nomination, from lawyers
and scholars of every background and political persuasion, but I don't
want to tie up the Senate floor. So I will just mention one piece of
testimony that struck me in particular.
As I mentioned, the American Bar Association released its rating of
Judge Barrett last week, a rating that the Democratic leader, by the
way, has called the ``gold standard''--the ``gold standard''--by which
judicial candidates are judged. Well, the ABA gave Judge Barrett its
highest possible rating--``well qualified.'' And the chairman of the
American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary,
the ABA committee that issues these ratings, testified before the
Judiciary Committee during Judge Barrett's hearing. I would like to
read from the testimony that he submitted to the committee.
Lawyers and judges uniformly praised the nominee's
integrity. Most remarkably, in interviews with individuals in
the legal profession and the community who know Judge
Barrett, whether for a few years or decades, not one person
uttered a negative word about her character. Accordingly, the
Standing Committee was not required to consider any negative
criticisms of Judge Barrett.
His testimony went on:
[[Page S6308]]
All of the experienced, dedicated, and knowledgeable
sitting judges, legal scholars, and lawyers who have worked
with or against Judge Barrett had high praise for her
intellect and ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
. . . Given the breadth, diversity, and strength of the
positive feedback we received from judges and lawyers of all
political persuasions and from so many parts of the
profession, the Standing Committee would have been hard-
pressed to come to any conclusion other than that Judge
Barrett has demonstrated professional competence that is
exceptional.
We are fortunate to have a nominee like Judge Barrett, and I look
forward to confirming her to the Supreme Court in the very near future.
