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Amey Coney Barrett
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
She is the candidate of US President Donald Trump, a woman who could cement the balance of power in the United States Supreme Court for years: with Amy Coney Barrett, the Conservatives would have six out of nine seats on the Supreme Court.
It goes without saying that your nomination is particularly explosive, especially since the US election on November 3rd.
But first Barrett has to face many critical questions in the Senate Judiciary Committee - over several days.
However: After the start on Monday, Barret still owed many answers on Tuesday.
She avoided the particularly controversial topics.
It dealt with central issues such as the right to abortion or same-sex marriages.
Barrett on Tuesday refused to disclose her position on previous court decisions on these matters.
If she were to express an opinion on a precedent, this could give parties an indication of what decision she would be inclined to take in a specific case, argued Barrett in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Specifically, she did not want to comment on two Supreme Court precedent decisions that some conservatives in the US want to overturn.
It is the judgment of Roe v.
Wade of 1973, which declared women's right to abortion to be covered by the US Constitution, and Obergefell v.
Hodges, with whom this was also established for same-sex marriages in 2015.
She also emphasized that she found discrimination "abhorrent".
"I would never discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation."
Barrett also gave no answer to Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein's question as to whether a US president could postpone an election in her view.
If ever faced with such a question, she would have to first hear the parties' arguments and consult with colleagues, Barrett said.
Successor to Ruth Bader Ginsburg
According to Trump's will, Barrett is to be the successor of the late liberal judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The decision would be of enormous importance.
The court often has the final say in legal disputes on politically contested issues such as immigration, the right to abortion or gun ownership.
The judges are proposed by the President and appointed for life by the Senate.
The Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate.
This means that the Democrats cannot prevent Barrett's appointment on their own.
Trump and the Republicans in the Senate want Barrett in the Supreme Court before the presidential election.
The final vote is scheduled for October 22nd.
The President made no secret of the fact that he was also interested in possible legal disputes regarding the counting of votes in the election.
There were no agreements with the White House on possible processes in connection with the election, Barrett said.
The President's actions have been causing outrage among the Democrats for weeks: They have unsuccessfully demanded that the personnel be decided after the election.
In 2016, the Republicans in the Senate blocked the appointment of a vacant Supreme Court post by Trump's predecessor Obama for months, arguing that voters should have a say indirectly through the presidential election.
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kev / dpa