Who is Amy Coney Barrett? Biography, Age & Wikipedia

Amy Coney Barrett (born January 28, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was appointed in 2020, becoming the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Early Life and Education

Barrett was the eldest of eight children born to Linda Coney, a high school French teacher, and Michael Coney, an attorney. Raised in a devoutly Roman Catholic family, she belonged to the People of Praise, a Christian organization promoting close-knit religious communities.

She attended St. Mary’s Dominican High School, an all-girls Catholic school, before earning her undergraduate degree (magna cum laude) in 1994 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Barrett then pursued law at Notre Dame Law School, graduating summa cum laude in 1997 with a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree.

Legal Career and Clerkships

After law school, Barrett completed two prestigious federal clerkships:

1. Judge Laurence Silberman – U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit)
2. Justice Antonin Scalia – U.S. Supreme Court

Justice Scalia, a leading conservative jurist, deeply influenced Barrett’s judicial philosophy. Upon her Supreme Court nomination, Barrett stated, “His judicial philosophy is mine, too.”

She later practiced law in Washington, D.C., with Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, which merged with Baker Botts in 2001. During this time, Barrett worked on Bush v. Gore (2000), the case that decided the 2000 U.S. presidential election.

Academic Career and Legal Philosophy

In 2001, Barrett left private practice to become a law professor. She first served as a fellow at George Washington University Law School before joining Notre Dame Law School, where she taught constitutional law, civil procedure, evidence, and statutory interpretation.

Barrett became a rising star in conservative legal circles, frequently speaking at Federalist Society events. She strongly advocated for originalism, a judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution based on its original meaning.

Appointment to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

In May 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Barrett to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a seat left vacant during Barack Obama’s presidency due to Senate Republican opposition.

During her confirmation hearing, Senator Dianne Feinstein questioned Barrett’s ability to separate her religious beliefs from her judicial role, famously stating, “The dogma lives loudly within you.” Despite controversy, Barrett was confirmed on October 31, 2017, by a 55–43 Senate vote.

Notable Judicial Decisions (Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals)

As a circuit judge, Barrett developed a conservative judicial record, ruling on key cases related to religious liberty, gun rights, due process, and immigration:

• Grussgott v. Milwaukee Jewish Day School (2018) – Ruled in favor of a religious liberty exception in an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case.
• Kanter v. Barr (2019) – Dissented in favor of expansive Second Amendment rights, applying originalist principles.
• Yafai v. Pompeo (2019) – Supported deference to consular officers in visa denial cases.
• Cook County v. Wolf (2020) – Defended Trump’s “public charge” immigration policy, dissenting against its legal challenge.

Appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court (2020)

Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, 2020, Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court. Her nomination sparked political controversy for two reasons:

1. Confirmation Timing – Senate Republicans rushed the process, despite having blocked Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, in 2016 under the argument that a Supreme Court seat should not be filled in an election year.

Confirmation and Supreme Court Tenure

During confirmation hearings, Barrett declined to reveal her stance on abortion rights, climate change, Trump’s self-pardon, and voter intimidation. She maintained that she would bring “no agenda” to the Court.

Barrett was confirmed on October 26, 2020, by a 52–48 vote, mostly along party lines. Republican Senator Susan Collins was the only GOP member to vote against her, citing the rushed confirmation process.

Personal Life

Barrett is married to Jesse Barrett, an attorney and fellow Notre Dame Law School graduate. The couple has seven children.

Legacy and Impact

Barrett’s confirmation cemented a 6–3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, shifting judicial balance on issues like abortion, gun rights, religious liberty, and healthcare. Her rulings continue to shape constitutional interpretation and American law