After President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, was announced, of course there was panic. Would this nominee qualify for the Supreme Court? Who was she?

I did some research and found the ACB was fantastic in whatever she did. She was currently serving as a circuit judge, and what stood out to many was that she’s a mother of seven.

Would the Confirmation Hearings Be Hell?

Before the confirmation hearings I was in a panic because I wondered how the Senate would treat her. Would the same senators who trashed Justice Kavanaugh also put her through hell? Looking at the picture of her walking beside President Trump and her family following, she looked confident. I was still anxious about what her treatment would be.

In her opening remarks at the confirmation hearing she gave a quick lesson that as a judge she was there to interpret the law. She paid tribute to some women that had been on the Supreme Court, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom she called a trail blazer.

As the hearings moved along, it soon became clear that ACB was focused and confident in her answers. No one will ever forget the moment she held up a blank notepad after being asked to show her notes.

Amy Coney Barrett also shined as a teacher. Multiple judges have taught law at a university level like her. The world caught glimpses of her past teaching experiences as well as witnessing her teach lessons to the Senate.

Teachers and Mentors

Amy Coney Barrett is a Notre Dame Law School alum and took part a conversation hosted by the school. (See “A conversation with Judge Amy Coney Barrett…” video for full conversation). She said one reason she had chosen to attend Notre Dame was because she hoped she’d be motivated by others to become a better person. She went on to become a professor, judge, and boss, and carried that same hope for her clerks and hoped they would have positive experiences.

Barrett stressed the importance of having good mentors. She raved about an English professor that had taken time out to encourage her. Barrett concluded that mentoring is:

“Taking the time to reach out to someone.”

ACB has striven to be a good mentor herself. She said:

 “I’ve long had a responsibility as a teacher to be a mentor.”

Keep in mind this conversation was posted August 2019.  A little more than a year later (during her confirmation hearing), one of her past students gave an example that showed the type of mentor Amy Coney Barrett had been from her personal experience:

Getting Questioned

My worry about certain senators attacking her came true. Whether it was sneaky or obvious, she heard them out. Man, was she patient! She didn’t react as they spouted off their narratives. One time when Senator (and VP candidate) Kamala Harris questioned and she started to answer, Harris said, “Let me finish if you don’t mind.” When Barrett said, “Oh, I’m so sorry,” that was really nice and powerful. When given the opportunity, she answered the questions with conviction.

I still don’t know how Barrett could be so poised and essentially remind senators she was there to evaluate the law and not make it. (I recommend anyone who’s wondering the roles of government branches to go to United States’ government website and read about the three branches here.)

After Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, she again reminded that she there to help interpret the law.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali @Ayaan tweeted:

“If I were teaching a course with an introduction to the concept of the separation of powers, I would begin with this speech. Articulate, crystal clear and consequential.” She included the following video:

The Future Is Actually Bright

Who knows what the upcoming days will be like, but if the world has understanding teachers (not necessarily professional), the future is bright.

Amy Coney Barrett is a great teacher/mentor. This last month, we witnessed her teaching the senate.  She was teaching when she listened to questions. Her concise answers were great lessons in manners and how to express yourself appropriately. In her remarks at the swearing-in ceremony, she demonstrated the importance of reviewing concepts for those still learning.

She inspires me to be a better teacher and student.