Washington D.C., Oct 13, 2020 / 09:00 am
Judge Amy Coney Barrett explained to senators on Tuesday that she has no personal agenda to overturn previous decisions if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court, and that she would consider each case on its own merits, according to the law.
During the morning of the second day of confirmation hearings, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked Barrett to comment on whether the court's landmark abortion decision in Roe v. Wade was wrongfully decided. Barrett declined to say outright one way or another, citing her position as a judge and a need to interpret law.
"I do want to be forthright and answer every question, so far as I can," said Barrett, before referencing Justice Elana Kagan, who said during her own confirmation hearings that she "was not going to grade precedent or give it a 'thumbs up' or a 'thumbs down'" on specific decisions.
The 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade found that there was a constitutional right to an abortion. The 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey upheld the decision found in Roe, but also created an "undue burden" standard when it came to abortion law.