On Saturday, Sept. 26, President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Amy Conery Barrett for Supreme Court Justice. This announcement followed the funeral of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the late female Justice and activist. The news of Barrett’s nomination was met with both excitement and outrage.

The Democratic Party made it very clear that they were not in agreement with Trump’s actions. Barrett’s addition to the Court means for a majority conservative voting party. Democrats worry that this will be the end of historically significant acts like Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. They urged the president to wait until after elections to hold the hearings for the next Justice. Those pleas fell on deaf ears as the Republican Party obviously continued on with their plans.

On the other hand, conservatives are thrilled with this outcome. Many Christian women view Barrett as a huge inspiration. Her dedication to the law and commitment to teaching is deemed as admirable and shows what a determined woman can accomplish. Her willingness to speak up about topics she values and unwillingness to back down is seen as praiseworthy to a generation of adults and teens with similar beliefs.

Ruth Malhotra, a thirty-six-year-old Evangelical Christian, has been following Barrett’s journey for some time. Despite her lack of admiration for our current president, Malhotra said she got emotional watching Trump announce Barrett as his choice.

“She represented the women I go [to] church with, while also representing the professors I had in graduate school…. She seemed to be the whole package,” she said.

On top of balancing her life in law, Barrett is a mother of 7 children. She has 2 adopted children from Haiti and a young son with Down syndrome. Her heart for adoption and families gained her favor among the conservative party who put a big emphasis on family ideals.

 Barrett’s faith also makes her a favorite among the right-leaning crowd. While she testified that her faith will not impact her rulings, many hope that her voice will lead to the defunding of laws that religious organizations have been fighting against for many years.

In her statement to the public following the announcement of her nomination, Barrett recognized the contributions made by the late Justice Ginsburg that allowed Barret to be in this position.

“Should I be confirmed, I will be mindful of who came before me…not only broke glass ceilings- [Ginsburg] smashed them…. She was a woman of enormous talent and consequence,” said Barrett.

Barrett also said in her speech that she will do “equal right to the poor and rich” and meet the challenges she will face “with both humility and courage.”

Trump is urging the public to give Barrett the respectful hearing she deserves despite controversy over her nomination. Republicans are hoping for a hasty confirmation with her hearing beginning on Oct. 12, 2020.