Supreme Court nominee Barrett faces Senate despite virus

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court minee Amy Coney Barrett are set to begin as a divided Senate charges ahe on President Donald Trump’s pick to replace late Justice Ruth Ber Ginsburg and cement a conservative court majority before Election Day .

Barrett , a federal appeals court judge, will tell Senate Judiciary Committee that she she is “forever grateful” for Ginsburg’s trailblazing path as a woman. But she is resolved to maintain perspective of her own mentor, late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and “apply law as written,” according to her prepared opening remarks for hearings, which start Monday as country is in grips of coronavirus pandemic.

“Courts are t designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett says in remarks, which Associated Press obtained.

Republicans, who control Senate, are moving at a breakneck pace to seat Barrett before v. 3 election to secure Trump's pick and hear a high-profile challenge to Affordable Care Act and any election-related challenges.

Democrats are trying in vain to delay fast-track confirmation by raising fresh concerns about safety of meeting during pandemic after two GOP senators on panel tested positive for vel coronavirus.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have t said if y will attend in person. Lee's spokesman said senator is symptom-free but would be making a decision on wher to attend Monday morning, per his doctor’s orders. A spokesman for Tillis did t respond to multiple requests for comment. Both tested positive 10 days ago.

Key Democrats are staying away. California Sen. Kamala Harris, Democratic vice presidential minee and a committee member, plans to participate remotely from her Senate office due to coronavirus concerns, her spokesman said Sunday.

committee released a letter from Architect of Capitol on Sunday that says hearing room has been set up in consultation with Office of Attending Physician with appropriate distance between seats and air ventilation systems that meet or exceed industry standards.

“We’re going to work safely," said committee's chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” He said he took a coronavirus test last week and is “negative.”

Trump chose 48-year-old judge after death last month of Ginsburg, a liberal icon. It's opportunity to entrench a conservative majority on court for years to come with his third justice.

Outside groups are pushing Democrats to make a strong case against what y call an illegitimate confirmation, when people are alrey voting in some states, saying winner of presidency should make pick. Supreme Court justice has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential contest.

“ public is with m that this shouldn’t happen before election,” said Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, which vocates against right-leaning minees.

country will get an extended look at Barrett over next three days in hearings like ne or during heated election environment and pandemic limiting public access. Faith and family punctuate her testimony, and she said would bring “a few new perspectives” as first mor of school- children on nine-member court.

Barrett says she uses her children as a test when deciding cases, asking herself how she would view decision if one of her children were party she was ruling against.

“Even though I would t like result, would I understand that decision was fairly reasoned and grounded in law?” she says in prepared remarks.

A Catholic, she says she believes in “power of prayer.” Barrett's religious views and past leership role in a Catholic faith community pose a challenge for Democrats as y try to probe her judicial approach to abortion, gay marri and or social issues without veering into inappropriate questions of her faith.

Ordinarily, Barrett would get to show off her family and seven children. But White House event anuncing her mination, in which most of audience did t wear masks, has been labeled a “superspreer” for coronavirus.

More than two dozen people linked to Sept. 26 Rose Garden event, including two GOP senators, have contracted COVID-19 since n. Barrett and her family went maskless at event. She and her husband, Jesse, tested positive for virus earlier this year and recovered, two ministration officials have said.

Democrats alrey were enrd that Republicans are moving so quickly having refused to consider President Barack Obama minee in February 2016, well before that year's election.

Barrett is most openly anti-abortion Supreme Court minee in deces and her vote could provide a majority to restrict if t overturn abortion rights. Democrats have me clear that y will press Barrett on health care, abortion and or issues where her vote could push court furr to right. Republicans will highlight Barrett’s belief in sticking to text of laws and original meaning of constitutional provisions, both Scalia tremarks as well.