KEY POINTS

  • Barrett underwent two days of questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  • She declined to answer questions aimed to elicit her views on specific issues, including the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights
  • The committee winds up the hearing Thursday with testimony from eight outside witnesses and the American Bar Association

Outside witnesses were on tap Thursday, the final day of a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.

Barrett spent two days answering questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, deftly sidestepping efforts to pin down her views on major issues including same-sex marriage, abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act. She also declined to say whether she would recuse herself from a challenge to the results of the upcoming presidential election should it come before the high court.

Video of the hearing, which starts at 9 a.m. ET, can be seen below.

The hearings will be televised on by major news networks, including C-Span, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.

The Judiciary Committee scheduled a vote to approve Barrett’s nomination on Thursday at 9 a.m. However, the vote is expected to be delayed for a week.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Democrats would present four witnesses.

The witnesses were identified as Stacy Staggs, a mother of 7-year-old twins with developmental problems; Dr. Farhan Bhatti, who will discuss the harm overturning the ACA would cause; Crystal Good, who will discuss reproductive rights, and Kristen Clarke, who will discuss voting rights.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Republicans would present four witnesses, as well. The committee also will hear from the American Bar Association.

“The hope was not to really to change anybody’s mind [with this hearing],” Graham said in winding up Wednesday’s session. “I don’t think that’s possible in today’s environment. I say that accepting 2020 for what it is. I’m hoping people got to know you better. I’m hoping young women who are conservative see hope in you. I’m hoping people who listened to you find your disposition reassuring.”

Graham praised Barrett for her judicial temperament and knowledge of the law.

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