WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court (all times local):
9:30 p.m.
Amy Coney Barrett is pledging to carry out her duties as a Supreme Court justice “without any fear or favor” toward the other branches of government or her own beliefs.
Barrett spoke Monday after taking the first of two oaths that will allow her to officially join the high court.
Addressing an outdoor White House ceremony in her honor, Barrett says it’s the job of a judge to “resist her policy preferences,” claiming it would be a “dereliction of duty” to give in to them.
Barrett is pledging to do her job “independently of the political branches and of my own preferences.”
9:20 p.m.
The scene at an outdoor White House ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett looked very different from the previous White House event where President Donald Trump introduced her as his nominee.
Monday’s event was held on the South Lawn instead of the smaller Rose Garden.
Scores of guests were spaced out as opposed to being seated close together, as they were in the garden at the event on Sept. 26.
Most guests wore masks on Monday as opposed to the September event, where few people wore face coverings to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
Several people who attended the Sept. 26 event later contracted the virus, including Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
9:17 p.m.
Amy Coney Barrett has taken the first of two oaths she needs to officially join the Supreme Court.
The Senate confirmed Barrett’s nomination on a largely party line 52-48 vote shortly before Justice Clarence Thomas administered the Constitutional Oath to Barrett at an outdoor White House ceremony.
Barrett is the first Supreme Court justice to be confirmed so close to a presidential election.
A conservative, Barrett fills the vacancy created by the September death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who led the court’s liberal voting bloc.
Chief Justice John Roberts is set to administer a second oath — known as the judicial oath — to the former federal appeals court judge at a private ceremony at the court on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old Louisiana native will then be able to take part in the high court’s work. Her addition likely will solidify a 6-3 conservative shift on the nation’s highest court.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.