For our latest print edition, we asked readers for their thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court justice nomination process.

 

“I believe the Supreme Court should be expanded, especially if we get too many conservatives on the Supreme Court and not enough moderates. I think there needs to be a balance. Even though justices swear to be neutral, I believe people are swayed by their opinions, how they are raised. You have Catholic judges who’ve had strict Catholic upbringings as being pro-life and that’s a big worry for women, that they will repeal Roe vs. Wade. It shouldn’t even be happening at this point because of COVID.”

Isabel Bardina, Bedford Park

 

“My feeling is that (Judge Amy Coney) Barrett is a part of a religious cult, because people don’t know what ‘People of Paradise’ means. They don’t understand that she’s a handmaiden and that she gives all respect to her husband, which is very biblical, and I think a person on the Supreme Court shouldn’t be submissive to the man and her religion, so how can she advocate for other people, especially with LGB because, you know, she’s not for that? Due to the breakdown of the judicial system, and the quid pro quos [sic] you have in parliamentary rules, and the chaos with the rules, I’m very worried about totalitarianism in the future.”

Michael Acton, Norwood

 

“The Supreme Court is going to become a mess because I heard that if (former Vice President Joe) Biden wins, he’s going to put in like 15 Supreme Court judges, but why don’t they leave it like it is? Let me tell you this – the entire government is about money right now. They sent all the kids to school and what happened? Some kids came out with coronavirus. When they asked Barrett what she thought about abortion, she tried to avoid the question. I do think they should put a limit on the number of judges a president can appoint. It’s going to be a big mess.”

Wilfredo Fraguada, Mt. Hope

 

“I believe that [President Donald] Trump is putting in this woman because of the election, that she might rule in favor of him and it’s really a terrible thing that they’re doing to this country. They should wait for the next president to make the appointment – either her or somebody else. I do believe the Supreme Court may have to be expanded. F.D.R. tried to do that when the right wing Republicans tried to oppose the New Deal, but now it may be needed for a more stable society. If Trump wins, we might have to get the hell out of here. This is the first president who doesn’t care about the Constitution. He just wants to be a dictator.”

Rafael Martinez-Equin, Jerome Park

 

“As far as the nomination? I love it, I’m with it. She’s a beautiful person. She has a multicultural family. She’s American. She’s pro-life. I love everything about her. Of course, the left is going to say negative things about her. Of course the Democrats are going to stack the court, but they won’t admit it. They’ll wait and tell us after the election. I think if she gets in to hear a case on the presidential election, that would be a conflict of interest. It’s going to be weird. I kind of agree that she may have to recuse herself. 2020 is a crazy year.”

Melvin Pagan, Fordham