Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been cleared to take her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Senate voted Monday night to confirm her nomination. It is monumental for a number of reasons, including the fact that her inclusion solidifies a 6-3 conservative majority and it comes just days before Election Day.
The margin was slim, a 52-48 vote that mostly went along party lines. Susan Collins of Maine is the one Republican who joined the 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats in voting against the nomination. Coney will be sworn in Monday evening and will become the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She fills the vacancy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September.
She will get right to work too, and most likely she’ll be able to hear cases as early as next week, including a challenge to the Affordable Care Act.
“This is something to really be proud of and feel good about. We made an important contribution to the future of this country,” Senate leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement as the Senate advanced Barrett for confirmation. “A lot of what we’ve done over the last four years will be undone sooner or later by the next election … They won’t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.”
Coney Barrett becomes the third justice appointed to the Supreme Court by President Trump.
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