Local, national leaders react to President Trump's SCOTUS pick Amy Coney Barrett

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court Saturday, Sept. 26.

Barrett would succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 


President Donald Trump

Trump called Barrett a woman of "towering intellect" with loyalty to the constitution. He also noted she would rule "based solely on the fair reading of the law." 

Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said this revolves around healthcare. In a statement released Saturday, Biden said Barrett is a jurist with a written track record of disagreeing with the court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act. 

Biden also stated the Senate shouldn't act until after the American people select their president and Congress. 

Click here to read Biden's full statement. 

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders called the nominee selection "an absolute outrage" on Saturday. 

Senator Ron Johnson 

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson released the following statement: 

“Less than three years ago, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed on a bipartisan basis as a judge on the Federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. I was pleased to vote for her then, and I expect to support her confirmation as a justice on the Supreme Court.”

Senator Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court nomination:

“President Trump wants to overturn the Affordable Care Act completely and take away people's health care and protections for pre-existing health conditions in the middle of a pandemic. Trump wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and have the government take away reproductive freedoms for women. Now he has nominated an activist judge to do what he wants, instead of giving the American people a voice on these important issues first.

“The American people should vote in this election before the Senate votes on a nomination to the Supreme Court. That was the standard imposed on President Obama by Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans and the same standard should apply now to President Trump.

“I will not vote for a nominee to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court until after the American people have voted and our next President and new Senate have taken office.”

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

Walker called the nomination a "great moment" on Twitter Saturday. In another tweet, Walker said Barrett is a "brilliant pick" and that Trump has the right to nominate someone to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court at any time until the end of his term.

Wisconsin Family Action PAC 

Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Action released the following statement regarding President Trump's SCOTUS pick Amy Coney Barrett:

“President Trump has made an excellent choice with Judge Amy Coney Barrett. She has a proven and consistent track record showing she is a true judicial conservative. A judicial conservative interprets the constitution as it is written and intended to be understood and followed by those who wrote it, rather than viewing it as a ‘living document,’ that should be functionally rewritten by judicial opinions to reflect cultural and popular happenings and opinions. Judge Barrett’s words and judicial actions show she, like former Justice Antonin Scalia, whom she clerked for, is an originalist, not a judicial activist that usurps the authority of the legislative branch by making law from the bench. She is exactly the kind of justice we need on our nation’s highest court.

“Judge Barrett, when nominated for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, underwent a grueling nomination hearing in the US Senate, with Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) basically ignoring Article VI of the US Constitution and making Judge Barrett’s religious faith a test for office. Fortunately, the Republican majority in the Senate did the right thing then and confirmed this excellent candidate. Unfortunately, we can probably expect the same treatment of Judge Barrett this time by the Democrats. Since the Republicans still hold the majority in the Senate, we should definitely expect them to hold a rigorous hearing but ultimately confirm the president’s nominee.

“This kind of judicial appointment is precisely why WFA PAC endorsed President Trump for this election. We are grateful he is again keeping his promises, especially when it comes to judicial nominees. We need justices on the Supreme Court who will interpret law in light of the constitution and not make law and who, as appropriate, will have the courage to even undo unconstitutional decisions made by previous courts. President Trump hit a grand slam with Judge Amy Coney Barrett. We thank the President and call on the Senate to move quickly to make Judge Barrett, Justice Barrett.”

Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin (AFP-WI)

AFP-WI Deputy State Director Annette Olson issued the following statement:

“Judge Amy Coney Barrett will be an exceptional addition to the U.S. Supreme Court. As an experienced jurist, Judge Barrett understands the importance of upholding the Constitution and interpreting the law as written, rather than legislating from the bench. While Senator Johnson has consistently supported constitutionalists on our courts, we hope Senator Baldwin will consider following his lead. Our activists look forward to helping support Judge Barrett’s confirmation.”

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