“Being a conservative woman, especially in law school, requires a lot of courage and independence, and in many ways is more indicative of feminism than simply falling into a predetermined vision,” Barrett said.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett gives a rare interview to USA TODAY
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett spoke to USA TODAY in a rare interview about the Trump decision, tensions on the court and efforts to restore public trust.
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett told a gathering of conservatives that the best way to combat the kind of “toxic hostility” that led to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is to “demonstrate class and strength in the face of hatred.”
“Fighting poison with poison doesn’t work. It creates more poison,” Barrett said at the Federalist Society’s annual black tie celebration on Nov. 6.
Barrett and Justice Brett Kavanaugh were the keynote speakers at the influential conservative legal group’s dinner and answered questions from the moderator, including some submitted by students.
Conservatives hold an overwhelming majority on the Supreme Court and control two other branches of the federal government, but the questions focused not on their successes but on how to deal with feelings under siege.
One student asked what the judge would say to those who felt that Kirk’s shooting had a chilling effect on conservative speech on campus.
Barrett said she should not remain silent, forgive her husband’s alleged killer and follow the example of Kirk’s wife, who “fights fire with strength and grace.”
Asked for advice for conservative women in law schools who feel marginalized because of their views, Barrett said they shouldn’t be afraid to be “countercultural.”
Barrett said she has done “a lot of counterculture stuff in my life,” referring to her seven children.
“The truth is, being a conservative woman, especially in law school, takes a lot of courage and independence, and in many ways is more feminist than falling into a predetermined vision of what a woman should be,” she said.
When questions turned to the criticism and death threats the justices themselves faced, Kavanaugh said he was trying to follow role models like the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who showed “what it means to withstand debilitating criticism and what it means to be fearless.”
Justice Samuel Alito, who was in the audience, similarly “demonstrated commitment and courage to uphold principles at great cost,” Kavanaugh said.
“If you don’t want to be criticized, this is not a good job,” Kavanaugh said of being a Supreme Court justice.
