President Trump announced he's nominating federal appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.
Why it matters: She could give conservatives a 6-3 majority on the high court, and her nomination sets in motion a scramble among Senate Republicans to confirm her with 38 days before the election. Leader Mitch McConnell appears to have the votes to confirm Barrett with the current majority.
What they're saying: "I stand before you today to fulfill one of my highest and most important duties under the United States Constitution: the nomination of a Supreme Court justice," Trump said Saturday.
The big picture: Barrett, a 48-year-old steadfast social conservative, could push the court further to the right for decades to come.
- In her academic writings, public appearances and decisions as a judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Barrett has staked out conservative positions on a host of issues, including the Affordable Care Act, gun control legislation and immigration, Axios' Sam Baker reports.
- While she has not ruled directly on abortion, abortion-rights opponents have reason to believe she’s on their side based on her religious background and past public statements.