Amy Coney Barrett: "I love the United States and I love the United States Constitution"

Icon: enlarge

Amy Coney Barrett: "Very well qualified"

Photo: Alex Brandon / dpa

The nomination was almost certain, the official confirmation has now been made: US President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett for the vacant seat in the Supreme Court - and wants to put her into office before the presidential election in early November.

The conservative lawyer Barrett is said to take the place of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Supreme Court.

(Read a portrait of Amy Coney Barrett here.)

Barrett is one of the "most brilliant and talented" legal experts in the United States, Trump said on Saturday at the announcement of his nomination in the rose garden of the White House.

The lawyer is "very well qualified".

After Trump, Barrett was allowed to give a short speech.

"I love the United States and I love the United States Constitution," said the 48-year-old.

She is "deeply honored" by the nomination.

She will keep her deceased predecessor Ruth Bader Ginsburg in memory.

"She has won the admiration of women across the country and around the world."

Barrett promised to be a judge modeled on the late Judge Antonin Scalia.

Scalia was a conservative, but also friends with Ginsburg.

"His legal philosophy is mine too: a judge must apply the law as it is written. Judges are not policy makers," Barrett said.

Ginsburg was considered an icon of the liberals.

With Barrett, the conservative judges would now have a majority of six of the nine seats on the Supreme Court. That could change American society forever.

Barrett is due for election to the Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court often has the final say on policy issues related to issues such as abortion, immigration, gun rights, and discrimination.

It is considered likely that American Conservatives could make a fresh attempt to overturn, or at least limit, the right to abortion and same-sex marriage in court.

The 48-year-old Barrett has already been traded as the most promising of several candidates in the past few days.

She has been a judge at an appeals court since 2017.

The Catholic is considered an anti-abortionist.

This makes their candidacy attractive to arch-conservative circles, while liberals were already concerned in 2017.

At the Senate hearing for her current post, Barrett said she was guided only by law, not by her beliefs.

The Supreme Court justices are appointed for life.

They are proposed by the President and approved by the Senate.

Republicans have a majority of 53 of the 100 seats in the Chamber.

Trump is aiming to fill Ginsburg's post before the presidential election on November 3.

According to media reports, Barrett's first hearing is scheduled for October 12th.

With Barrett, Trump would already occupy the third seat on the Supreme Court.

Icon: The mirror

ptz / dpa / Reuters