In the news…

By Emily Krupicka

• The Senate Judiciary Committee continues to review Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s qualifications to fill the vacancy of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If appointed, Barrett would create a 6-3 conserverative majority in the Senate and be President Trump’s third elected justice.

• On October 11, in a 106-93 point game, the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 NBA finals after defeating the Miami Heat. This victory scored LeBron James his fourth championship title in his basketball career.

• On election day, in addition to voting for government, Nebraska voters will have the opportunity to determine whether or not casino gambling will become legal in Nebraska. Nebraskans will vote for or against Initiatives 429, 430 and 431 which will permit casino gambling at horse races, create regulations for casinos and tax casinos.

• Almost three years after the murder of Sydney Loofe, Bailey Boswell, on October 14, was officially charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to committ a murder and improper disposal of human remains. The court is now deciding if she will face life in prison or the death penalty.

• In Hall County, coronavirus cases continue to surge, totalling over 100 in a single week. The Central District Health Department (CDHD) continues to encourage everyone to wear masks and to maintain a minimum six-foot distance between others.

• Allison Meier Madrigal, Sharon Placke and Joan Ruskamp were honored as Northwest’s three “distinguished alumni” on October 9. Each recipient was nominated for achieving their goals and doing good services that involve the community.

Amy Coney Barrett: Trump’s nominee

By Gabriel Lorenzo

On September 18, the United States heard the unexpected announcement of the death of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many people surrounded the Supreme Court building giving their last respects. To fill the vacant seat, President Donald Trump announced on September 26 a new candidate, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

Barrett received her education at St. Mary’s Dominican High School in Louisiana, Rhodes College in Tennessee and Notre Dame Law School in Indiana. According to the University of Notre Dame, she received a bachelor’s degree in English literature and was awarded with many honors at Rhodes College. She also received a doctoral degree in law and a few awards at Notre Dame. After getting her degrees, she clerked for Laurence H. Silberman, a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals and for the Supreme Court late Justice Antonin Scalia. In 2002, Barrett became a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame.

Today, the world is full of many points of view on every argument. There are many big topics that can affect the future of American lifestyles. Barrett, like Trump, believes that allowing abortion is immoral, which goes against the 1973 case Roe v. Wade.

“[Choosing a nominee] will happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court,” Trump said to NPR.

According to The Atlantic, she gave a lecture supporting pro-life at the University of Notre Dame. After the lecture, she decided to join an anti-abortion-rights faculty group by signing her name to a letter in the South Bend Tribune.

The Supreme Court will soon make a decision over the future of healthcare, reports the New York Times. Barrett will very likely be part of this conversation and is unsure of what she stands on.

Gun rights has been a controversy since the Constitution was adopted. According to the New York Times, Barrett wrote that the Second Amendment has a limit. The people do have the right to “bear arms,” but the government can also take away guns if necessary.

Republicans praised Trump for choosing Barrett as a nominee. Republicans would also agree with nominating Barrett for her values.

“Judge Barrett is just as brilliant and impressive as advertised,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted on October 13. “She is clearly qualified. She’s committed to fairness and impartiality. And she clearly understands the job of a judge under the Constitution is to apply the law and not impose personal policy views.”

Democrats disagree with having Barrett as a nominee or even choosing her before the 2020 presidential elections since there is limited time for voters to decide the next president.

“I clerked for Justice Scalia more than 20 years ago, but the lessons I learned still resonate,” Barrett said in an acceptance speech.

Barrett wants to continue the legacy of Scalia in the Supreme Court.

*Photo Courtesy of South Florida Sun Sentinel