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The Latest: Graham lauds Barrett on conservative beliefs

Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 4 years, 5 months AGO
| October 14, 2020 7:03 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett (all times local):

9:45 a.m.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham says the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is a signal to young conservative women who oppose abortion that there’s “a seat at the table for them.”

Opening the second day of questioning on Wednesday, the South Carolina Republican told Barrett she has been “candid to this body about who you are, what you believe” and this is the first time a woman has been nominated to the Supreme Court who is “unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology.”

Graham says he’s “never been more proud” of a nominee.

While Barrett has repeatedly declined during her confirmation hearings to say how she would rule on abortion, senators have been clear in their questioning that they know she is opposed to it.

Barrett is the most openly anti-abortion nominee to the Supreme Court in decades. Democrats have warned her confirmation could lead to the overturning of the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BARRETT HEARINGS:

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is back on Capitol Hill for Day Three of her confirmation hearings. Senators are digging deeper into her outlook on abortion, health care and a potentially disputed presidential election.

Read more:

Takeaways: Barrett is reticent as Democrats focus on health care.

AP FACT CHECK: Sen. Graham and Biden on Obamacare, Barrett.

AP Explains: Originalism, Barrett’s judicial philosophy.

— Barrett cites ‘Ginsburg rule’ that Ginsburg didn’t follow.

— Barrett hearing turns to discussion of few high court cases.

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

9 a.m.

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is back before the Senate Judiciary Committee to face more questions from senators at her confirmation hearing.

Tuesday’s session lasted nearly 12 hours. Barrett declined to voice an opinion on potential election-related litigation involving President Donald Trump or presidential transition of power. She also said she didn’t view the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that affirmed the right to abortion as an inviolable “super-precedent” that couldn’t be overturned.

On the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, which provides health care for more than 20 million people and comes before the court next month, Barrett says she doesn’t recall seeing Trump’s statements that he planned to nominate justices who would repeal the law.

The committee is scheduled to take a preliminary vote on her nomination on Thursday. The GOP-controlled Senate is expected to confirm her before Election Day. Barrett would replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, shifting the court’s 5-4 conservative majority to 6-3.

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