Barrett sworn in as new U.S. Supreme Court justice after Senate confirmation
WASHINGTON, DC -- Amy Coney Barrett has taken the first of two oaths she needs to officially join the U.S. Supreme Court.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Barrett’s nomination on a largely party line 52-48 vote shortly before Justice Clarence Thomas administered the Constitutional Oath to Barrett at an outdoor White House ceremony.
Barrett is pledging to carry out her duties as a Supreme Court justice “without any fear or favor” toward the other branches of government or her own beliefs.
Addressing the outdoor White House ceremony in her honor, Barrett says it’s the job of a judge to “resist her policy preferences,” claiming it would be a “dereliction of duty” to give in to them.
Barrett was the first Supreme Court justice to be confirmed so close to a presidential election and the third Supreme Court justice nominated by President Trump.
With no real power to stop the vote, Democrats still argued the winner of the Nov. 3 election should choose the nominee.
A conservative, Barrett fills the vacancy created by the September death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who led the court’s liberal voting bloc.
Chief Justice John Roberts is set to administer a second oath -- known as the judicial oath -- to the former federal appeals court judge at a private ceremony at the court on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old Louisiana native will then be able to take part in the high court’s work. Her addition likely will solidify a 6-3 conservative shift on the nation’s highest court.
