Supreme Court justices are color blind. They do not vote red or blue; they follow the U.S. Constitution.
That is what Justice Amy Coney Barrett told Fox News’ Bret Baier in an interview Monday night.
“You know, we don’t wear red and blue, we all wear black because judges are nonpartisan. And the idea is that we are all listening to the law. We’re all trying to get it right. We’re not playing for a team,” she said. “We don’t sit on specific sides of the bench, left and right. You know, we sit in order of seniority.”
Barrett was on Fox News to promote her new book, “Listening to the Law.” The book provides a glimpse into how the court functions. This includes assigned seating, courtroom traditions, and the gap between outside perception and inside reality,” the outlet reported.
She also talked about how there is a disconnect between reality and the public’s perception.
“I often ask new law clerks what surprised you most when you started? And one of the most common answers is the difference between what’s happening on the inside and what people think is happening on the inside,” Barrett said.
She also addressed those who believe justices have an allegiance to President Donald Trump. Outlets have printed headlines alluding to this, including The New York Times and NBC.
Barrett said this is simply not the case, citing what they rule on today goes far beyond who is currently in office. She said the Court rules on offices such as the presidency as an institution.
“We’re not deciding cases just for today, and we’re not deciding cases based on the president,” Barrett said. “As the current occupant of the office, we’re deciding cases about the presidency. So we’re taking each case, and we’re looking at the question of presidential power as it comes. And the cases that we decide today are going to matter.
“Four presidencies from now, six presidencies from now, and so on. Each of these cases that we’re getting, you know, well, I mean, some of them overlap, but many present different constitutional issues,” she said.
Barrett also addressed concerns involving the Dobbs decision, which, she said, did not outlaw abortion.
“Dobbs did not say that abortion is illegal. Dobbs said it belongs to the political process,” Barrett said.
Barrett acknowledged the Court must follow the law even it it results in an unfavorable ruling.
“The court… can’t take into account public opinion in making individual decisions… you have to follow the law where it leads, even if it leads in a place where the majority of people don’t want you to go,” she said.
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