Radio Recap – LIVE ANALYSIS: Barrett Confirmation Hearings Begin + Ric Grenell in Studio

The confirmation hearings of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court have begun.

On today’s Jay Sekulow Live, we gave live analysis of the ongoing Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. The hearings began today with opening statements from Judge Barrett and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

We watched the hearing all morning in preparation for the broadcast. Most of the twenty-two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have elected to attend in person. Some however did elect to attend virtually at least for the day, if not throughout the entire proceedings.

Judge Barrett released her opening statement last night, reaffirming that she shares the judicial philosophy of her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who are the minority, seem to be staying away from Judge Barrett’s faith, at least for now. That didn’t go so well for them the last time and they know that.

Judge Barrett is brilliant, well qualified, and received the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association, which is by no means a conservative organization. She became a conservative household name because of the attacks that were made on her faith during her confirmation for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. That strategy backfired on them so this time around they’re attacking her on the Affordable Care Act, due to a case that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court after the election. The Left is playing politics in the hope of influencing the American people watching.

In my experience, the first day of confirmation hearings is generally the quietest day.  We did already see some attacks today, but those should really heat up over the next two days as she’s questioned by the various members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee presiding over the confirmation hearings, joined us on the broadcast on Friday. Here’s part of his opening statement today:

We’re confirming the judge in an election year, after voting has occurred. What will happen is that my Democratic colleagues will say this has never been done, and they’re right in this regard: nobody’s, I think, ever been confirmed in an election year past July. The bottom line is Justice Ginsberg, when asked about this several years ago, said that a President serves four years, not three. There’s nothing unconstitutional about this process. This is a vacancy that has occurred through a tragic loss of a great woman, and we’re going to fill that vacancy with another great woman. The bottom line here is that the Senate is doing its duty, constitutionally.

Senator Graham is correct, of course. History has proven him right.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings have started. This is the process that needs to be followed, but Senate Majority has the votes and will ultimately confirm Judge Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, barring any unforeseen developments.

The full broadcast is complete with much more analysis of the ongoing Senate Judiciary confirmation hearings by our team. We also were joined by ACLJ Senior Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy Ric Grenell who talked about the presidential election.

Watch the full broadcast below.