Senate Judiciary sends Amy Coney Barrett nomination to the floor with no Democratic votes

Protesters and supporters U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett rally during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday as the panel's Democrats boycotted the hearing, setting up a final confirmation vote on the Senate floor as early as Monday.

The 12 Republicans on the committee voted to report Barrett's nomination favorably to the Senate floor, while Democrats did not vote because they were absent.

"We did it. We did it. Judge Barrett is going to the floor," Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said to the Republicans there. "I hope you look back on this time on the committee and say, 'I was there when it mattered.' And you were."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats speak to the media after boycotting the Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Instead of attending, committee Democrats set up large photos on their chairs of constituents they say will be harmed if Barrett is confirmed.

They have accused Republicans of violating panel rules in a rush to complete the process in time for Supreme Court oral arguments Nov. 10 in a case where the Trump administration is asking the justices to wipe out the full 2010 health care law.

Graham moved forward with the vote, blaming Democrats for starting the Senate down a procedural path on judicial nominees over the years that led to this vote.

Protesters and supporters U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett rally during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

"We're not going to allow them to take over the committee," Graham said. "They made a choice not to participate."

And Graham, in the middle of a close reelection campaign, told Republicans on the committee that moments like this make it worth it.

"It's moments like this, where you can tell young conservative women, 'There's a place at the table for you,'" Graham said. "This is a groundbreaking, historic moment for American legal community and, really, politically."

U.S. Capitol Police officers stand guard as Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats speak to the media after boycotting the Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Graham praised the qualifications and solidly conservative legal approach of Barrett, who spent 16 years as a legal academic before President Donald Trump appointed her to a federal appeals court in 2017.

"I've been here a while, and I've never seen anyone more capable than Judge Barrett on the law," Graham said. "I can tell you this, the law of Amy will not be applied to the case and controversy, it will be the law as written in the Constitution, or by statute, or whatever regulatory body she's going to review. She will take her job on without agenda."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats speak to the media after boycotting the Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats speak to the media after boycotting a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Protesters and supporters U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett rally during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats speak to the media after boycotting the Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) speaks next to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the media after Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats boycotting the Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 22, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)