Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is facing allegations from a prominent conservative lawyer, Mark Levin, who claims she is gravitating towards more liberal viewpoints. Levin has pointed to several recent decisions as evidence of Barrett's shifting judicial stance.
Barrett was appointed to the Supreme Court four years ago, significantly reinforcing a conservative 6-3 supermajority. During her tenure, Barrett has made substantial contributions to pivotal rulings, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the dismantling of affirmative action policies, and the expansion of gun rights.
Newsweek reported that despite all of that, Barrett's recent judicial actions have raised eyebrows among her conservative base.
In the most recent court term, which concluded last week, she has demonstrated a readiness to diverge from conventional conservative positions.
One stark example occurred when Barrett dissented as the court restricted the application of a federal obstruction law against defendants from the Capitol riot and former President Donald Trump.
Additionally, Barrett took issue with part of the court's ruling, suggesting that former presidents do not possess blanket immunity from prosecution for actions taken while in office. This dissent indicates Barrett's willingness to scrutinize some historical legal precedents that her conservative peers support.
Barrett's judicial philosophy has occasionally clashed with that of Justice Clarence Thomas, particularly regarding the interpretation of historical context in modern legal matters.
These divergences have fueled speculation about her evolving judicial stance.
Criticism of Barrett reached new heights last month when she sided with the Biden administration on a case involving the federal government's authority to combat contentious social media postings. The court ruled that states led by Republicans didn't have the standing to sue, a decision met with considerable conservative backlash.
"As I pointed out a while ago, Amy Coney Barrett is flipping," wrote conservative lawyer Mark Levin on X, previously known as Twitter. Levin has been vocal about his belief that Barrett is increasingly aligning with liberal perspectives.
He further asserted, "The media now owns Amy Coney Barrett. She's the latest in a long line of formerly conservative justice nominees who is smitten with media adulation. It'll get worse." These comments reflect a growing concern among conservatives about Barrett's judicial decisions.
On his podcast, Levin elaborated, "I'm telling you that Barrett has decided she's a politician, not a Justice." He predicted that by the end of her tenure, Barrett "will have flipped all the way to the left."
Despite Levin's fierce critiques, not all legal experts share his view. Irv Gornstein, executive director of the Supreme Court Institute at Georgetown Law, expressed confidence in Barrett's enduring conservative orientation.
"If anyone thinks she will 'evolve' over to the left side of the court, they are mistaken," Gornstein told The Washington Post. He emphasized, "She is a conservative jurist through and through."
Barrett herself has consistently joined the court majority, aligning with it almost 92% of the time.
During the latest court term, she was the third most frequent majority joiner, following Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Although Barrett voted in favor of liberal outcomes more frequently than other Republican appointees, she remains a central figure in the conservative bloc of the Supreme Court. Her judicial approach continues to evoke mixed reactions across the political spectrum.
The question of Barrett's long-term judicial trajectory remains a topic of fervent debate. While some view her recent decisions as a sign of shifting ideology, others insist she will maintain her conservative judicial principles.
As the Supreme Court continues to navigate complex legal challenges, Barrett's rulings will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized.
Her decisions will play a critical role in shaping the future legal landscape of the United States.
In conclusion, Barrett's actions on the Supreme Court have sparked controversy, with notable conservative figures like Mark Levin questioning her judicial fidelity while others, such as Irv Gornstein, maintain that Barrett remains a committed conservative jurist.
