Resembling her predecessors, Amy Coney Barrett faces no shortage of qualifications to serve on the United States Supreme Court. She began her educational career at Rhodes College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as well as Phi Beta Kappa, both of which are highly prestigious leadership and academic societies respectively. Amy Coney Barrett graduated Magna Cum Laude and was named the most outstanding graduate by the English Department of Rhodes College. Her academic prowess earned her a full-ride scholarship from the Notre Dame Law School. At Notre Dame, she served as the Executive Editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. She also earned her Juris Doctorate there, graduating Summa Cum Laude and first in her class. Amy Coney Barrett has demonstrated academic talents with the sturdy resume she carries.
While continuing her legal career, Amy Coney Barrett also worked as a Graduate school professor. She first taught at the George Washington University Law School for 1 year. She then returned to Notre Dame to teach federal courts, evidence, constitutional law, and statutory interpretation classes. Her impeccable teaching career led her to hold the Diane and M.O. Miller II Research Chair of Law from 2014-2017. Her work was published in Columbia, Cornell, Virginia, Notre Dame, and the University of Texas Law Reviews. Notre Dame has also awarded her the Distinguished Professor of the Year award 3 times. Her teaching career proves to be important as she is now practicing the same principles she has been teaching.
Concurrently with her teaching career, Amy Coney Barrett clerked for Judge Lawrence Silberman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then for Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. She then worked at a law firm at Miller, Cassidy, Larroca, & Lewin then at Baker Botts. She assisted in the Bush v. Gore case, providing research and briefing assistance for Baker Botts, who represented George W. Bush. Amy Coney Barrett was then appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve on the Advisory Committee for Federal Rules and Appellate Procedure. After serving on this committee, she was appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court in 2017. Since her appointment, she has written seventy-nine majority, four concurring, and six dissenting opinions on the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Seventh Circuit.
It is important to note that there is not a codified formula that constitutes a perfect Supreme Court Justice. Sure, a fair amount of academic achievement, legal background, and proven adherence to our Nation’s laws are crucial proponents. However, there is not, and should not be nullification of her intellect because she did not graduate from an Ivy League school. Her personal background is also a component that should not be used against her. Though some say it will impact her decisions, her record has proven it has not. Though she is a devout Catholic, in her 2017 hearing, she claimed to “…faithfully follow…” binding precedent, when questioned about the landmark, Obergefell v. Hodges case. She has claimed many times, both in her Appellate Court and Supreme Court hearings, that her personal beliefs are not her judicial beliefs. She intends to “…follow the law as written, not as [she] had wished it was written…”
In short, Amy Coney Barrett is perfectly qualified to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Her academic prowess is clearly demonstrated in the robust resume she possesses. She also spent years teaching and mentoring students pursuing legal careers. She has taught classes on the very principles and procedures she is now following. Her legal career is unquestionably superb as only one other current Supreme Court justice has written more opinions than her. Her intellect shines through opinions as her interpretation and adherence to the Constitution are universally applied. She is an intelligent, fair-minded, and calculated woman-a perfect candidate to fill the vacant seat on the Court.