Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Memoir Promises Insight into the Supreme Court and Constitutional Matters
Scheduled for release in September, her book will delve into her experiences on the court and clarify her decision-making process in various cases.
A forthcoming book by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, detailing her experiences on the nation’s highest court, is slated for publication in September.
Barrett, who is now 53, was nominated by President Donald Trump during his initial term and took her oath as an associate justice of the Supreme Court on October 27, 2020, succeeding the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away on September 18 of the previous year.
Her memoir, titled “Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution,” is expected to hit the shelves on September 9.
According to the publisher’s summary, Barrett “details her role (and daily life) as a justice, addressing topics that range from her deliberation process to navigating media scrutiny.”
“With the same warmth and clarity that made her a beloved law professor, she animates the creation of the Constitution and outlines her method for interpreting its text,” the summary notes.
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“Through anecdotes about clerking for [the late] Justice Scalia and discussions of significant cases, she prompts readers to engage with originalism and appreciate the rich legacy of our Constitution,” the summary asserts.
From 1997 to 1998, she clerked for Judge Laurence Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, followed by clerking for Justice Antonin Scalia at the Supreme Court during the 1998 term.
Last year, Barrett participated in several public events alongside liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, discussing the camaraderie among justices.
“Public scrutiny is embraced,” she remarked. “Enhancing civics education is encouraged.”
She mentioned that she has “developed a thick skin, and I believe that’s necessary for those in public roles. It’s essential for all judges.”
Since joining the court, Barrett has generally taken conservative stances on several major issues, contributing to an expanded conservative majority.
She supported the majority in the June 2022 vote of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, stating there is no constitutional right to abortion.
In the same month, she stood with the majority in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, recognizing a constitutional right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.
Barrett also sided with the majority in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the June 2023 decision that ruled against affirmative action in college admissions.
Nonetheless, some of her decisions have faced backlash from conservative quarters.
In June 2024, Barrett dissented in Fischer v. United States, where the majority ruled that those charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach could not be prosecuted under a law that imposed 20-year prison terms for obstruction.
On March 5 of this year, she sided with the majority in Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, where the court upheld a lower court’s decision requiring the Trump administration to proceed with a $2 billion foreign aid payment.
Just a day prior, Barrett dissented in San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where the majority found that the agency’s wastewater permitting system breached federal law.
In June 2024, Barrett dissented in Ohio v. EPA, where the majority chose to temporarily suspend the agency’s “good neighbor” rule aimed at reducing smog from industrial states.
The Epoch Times contacted the Supreme Court’s public information office regarding comments on Barrett’s upcoming book but did not receive a response by the publication deadline.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
