Judge Barrett's Reactionary Jurisprudence (UPDATED)

For the past two Supreme Court seats, the ones filled by Neal Gorsuch and Brett "Beer and Assault" Kavanaugh, the name of Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett was floated as a top tier candidate. Now that malicious narcissist and demagogue Donald "COVID Donnie" Trump will have his third pick, barring a political miracle, religious extremist Barrett has emerged as a top two contender. She was "interviewed" by Trump yesterday, although we can imagine Trump was more interested in her physical appearance and expressions of loyalty than in her judicial record or philosophy.

In his delusional mind, Trump may believe picking either Barrett or Cuban-American Judge Barbara Lagoa will peel off some suburban women voters who'll overlook his misogyny, sexual assaults, and general criminality and flouting of the law. In Lagoa's case, Trump's openly mused about her Florida connection and Cuban background in this election year, once again thinking of his own diminishing prospects. However, it's Barrett's name that keeps popping up, and while she's not a lock by any means, she fits Trump's criteria for appealing to right-wing evangelicals (despite being conservative Catholic) whom he needs to have energized for November.

Barrett, who wears her very conservative Catholic doctrine (Bible first, then Constitution) on her sleeve, has a history as a right-wing legal activist professor and judge. Her nomination would be a particularly ominous portent for anyone who values women's reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, gun safety laws and the future of affordable health care. The Alliance for Justice has compiled a summary of her radical positions, including overturning or crippling Roe v. Wade, a stated goal of Trump:

"She called Roe v. Wade a 'judicial  fiat' and stated that the 'framework of Roe essentially permitted abortion on demand, and Roe recognizes no state interest in the life of a fetus.' She has also been extremely critical of stare decisis, the doctrine that requires judges to follow well-settled law, which has been central in ensuring women’s access to reproductive care."

It's stunningly out of the mainstream of American public opinion and values. If nominated, her confirmation may be unstoppable in the reactionary Republican Senate, but the Rethugs must pay a price for this and the deceit they practiced to have this farce just weeks before the Presidential election.

UPDATE:  Now that man of principle political windsock Sen. Mitt "Mittens" Romney has said he'll support ramming through a nominee before the election, confirmation of whoever COVID Donnie nominates is a virtual certainty.

(photo: Haven't seen that stare since Michele Bachmann. Wikimedia Commons)