"Our children obviously make our life very full," she said. "While I am a judge, I am better known back home as a room-parent, carpool-driver, and birthday-party planner," Barrett said.
"Our children are my greatest joy, even though they deprive me of any reasonable amount of sleep," she said, while praising the "unwavering support" of her husband, Jesse Barrett, also a successful lawyer, who "does far more than his share of the work."
"It is important, at a moment like this, to acknowledge family and friends," Barrett said. "But this evening I also want to acknowledge you my fellow Americans. The president has nominated me to serve on the United States Supreme Court. And that institution belongs to all of us."
"If confirmed, I would not assume that role for the sake of those in my own circle and certainly not for my own sake. I would assume this role to serve you. I would discharge the judicial oath, which requires me to administer justice without respect to persons, do[ing] equal right to the poor and rich."
In presenting his third nomination to the Supreme Court, President Trump recommended Barrett as "a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the constitution," and "eminently qualified" for service on the nation's highest court.
Republican leaders have indicated that they will move quickly to schedule confirmation hearings before the Senate judiciary committee and bring Barrett's nomination to a full vote.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said earlier this week that "the Senate will vote on this nomination this year," but has not specified if he expects the vote to occur before or after the November election.
The president thanked members of the Senate present at the presentation on Saturday for their "commitment to providing a fair and timely hearing" for the nomination.
Barrett currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, a position to which Trump nominated her in 2017.
Noting that she received "bipartisan support" in her 2017 confirmation vote, the president said her "qualifications are unsurpassed, and her record is beyond reproach," and that there should be a "straightforward and prompt" confirmation process.
"It should be very easy," Trump said, "good luck."
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Speaking after Trump, Barrett said she "looked forward" to working with members of the Senate during the confirmation process.
"I will do my very best to demonstrate that I am worthy of your support," she said
Barrett also said that she had "no illusions that the road ahead of me will be easy, either for the short term or the long haul."
"I never imagined that I would find myself in this position, but now that I am," she said, "I assure that I will meet the challenge with both humility and courage."
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.