Dominican Pride Showing: Potential Supreme Court nominee an alum

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - Former classmates of a New Orleans woman considered to be a front-runner for the U.S. Supreme Court say they are not surprised.

Amy Coney Barrett graduated from Dominican high school in New Orleans in 1990 and was recently honored by the school.

She is a Dominican High School graduate, who recently won Senate confirmation as a federal appeals court judge. Now,  Amy Coney Barrett, is considered by some to be a frontrunner to be  President Trump's latest nominee to serve as a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"She is the only person being considered who stood before Senate judiciary and the Senate within the past year," said Dominican alumnus Sharon Rodi.

Two months ago, Barrett was  honored as Dominican's Alumni of the Year for 2018 and her success is a matter of pride for Dominican students and alums.

"We are very proud as Dominican alums as to what she's accomplished. We hope and pray that she will be nominated and confirmed," said Rodi.

Barrett has accomplished much. She was vice president of Dominican's student council in her senior year. She graduated from Rhodes College and got her law degree from Notre Dame where she went on to teach and earn accolades, as pointed out by Senator Ted Cruz in her appellate judgeship confirmation hearing earlier this year, who noted that she had been named professor of the year at Notre Dame.

President Trump has said he wants someone to serve for 25 years, which Barrett, could do, at the age of 46.

"She's attractive to Trump because she's young, but she's a solid conservative vote," said Xavier political analyst Silas Lee, PhD.

Though Dominican High product Barrett is considered to be a frontrunner, this process is rough and tumble and still has a long way to go.

"It's going to be very contentious because Democrats know the significance of this and how fragile progress is," said Lee.

Democrats challenged Barrett's Catholicism and perceived pro-life stance during the earlier hearings.

"In your case, when you made your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you and that's a concern," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, (D-California).

"I would safely apply all supreme court precedent," said Barrett, last September.

She won confirmation.

Barrett, a mother of seven, including two adopted children, two from Haiti and one special needs, survived the federal appeals court selection process but the supreme court might be a different story.

"You can select someone, but if they are perceived as too liberal or conservative, they might not get past the Senate," said Lee.

Barrett's father is the deacon at St. Catherine of Sienna.

E.D. White is so far the only Louisianian to ever serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. His term lasted from 1894 until his death in 1921.

President Trump said he will make his selection on Monday.

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