Barrett, U.S. Federal Supreme Court Nominee, Scheduled for Oath Ceremony at White House Today

Sangwon: Barrett Nominee Confirmation Likely Around 7 PM
Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread in White House
Biden Criticizes, "Wear Masks and Social Distance"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House has announced an inauguration ceremony at the White House immediately after the Senate confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, the nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the 26th (local time), a senior White House official stated that Barrett's swearing-in ceremony will be held that evening with President Trump in attendance.

At 7 p.m. that evening, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote on Barrett's nomination. Since the Republicans hold the majority and some senators who opposed Barrett's confirmation have changed their stance, the confirmation is expected to pass.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden commented on the confirmation of Barrett, which would shift the Supreme Court to a strongly conservative 6-3 majority, saying, "I am not a big fan of expanding the number of justices." The Democratic side has expressed the opinion that if Biden is elected president, they should respond by expanding the number of Supreme Court justices.

Biden particularly pointed out that Barrett's nomination ceremony was the starting point of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) within the White House, advising, "Attendees of the swearing-in ceremony should wear masks and maintain social distancing."