Civil and Human Rights Coalition Condemns Confirmation of Amy Barrett to U.S. Court of Appeals

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Professor Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit:

 “Today’s vote continues the Senate Republicans’ record of rubber stamping all of President Trump’s judicial nominees. Our federal courts should be comprised of fair and independent judges who will safeguard the rights of all people in America, but Professor Barrett’s record shows that she will not be such a judge.

Professor Barrett’s past statements and writings show a strong, personal bias against reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights. And more broadly, her record demonstrates a dangerous lack of deference to long-standing precedent and judicial restraint.

President Trump’s divisive agenda has been repeatedly challenged and stopped in the courts. Rather than change his policies or passing legislation, President Trump is seeking to pack the courts with extremists. Senate Republicans are shirking their independent constitutional role by rubber stamping these nominees. These confirmations to lifetime appointments on the federal bench will have a lasting impact on our civil rights for years to come, and we urge all senators to independently consider the consequences of their actions.”

In August, The Leadership Conference sent a letter to the Senate urging opposition to the confirmation of Professor Barrett. That letter is available here.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.