Battle account recounted by Amy Coney Barrett: Balancing personal beliefs versus legal mandates in new publication

Justice Amy Coney Barrett Upholds Tsarnaev's Death Sentence, Reiterates Duty to Uphold the Constitution

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court, recently made headlines for her vote to uphold the death sentence of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the convicted terrorist behind the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

In a case that was considered by the Court, Barrett's decision was not a reflection of a personal belief that Tsarnaev had a stronger argument, but rather a duty to uphold the law. This stance is in line with Barrett's views on the role of a judge, which she elucidates in her upcoming book, "Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution."

Barrett argues that distorting the law to align with her moral or policy views would interfere with voters' right to self-government. She contends that judges are referees, not kings, and their role is to decide whether people have played by the rules, not what the rules should be.

Before becoming a judge, Barrett had moral objections to capital punishment. However, she felt it would be a dereliction of duty not to rule based on the law, rather than her personal beliefs. She noted that she could have looked for ways to slant the law in favor of defendants facing the death penalty, but chose not to.

Barrett's vote did not represent a personal alignment of the legal system with her moral or policy views. Instead, it was a ruling based on the law, and it did not affirm the morality of executing Tsarnaev. The Supreme Court's ruling upheld that there was no legal impediment to imposing the death penalty on the convicted terrorist.

It's important to note that Barrett was not a member of the Supreme Court at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing case involving Tsarnaev, as she joined the Court in October 2020.

In her book, Barrett describes her internal struggle to reconcile her personal beliefs with her duty to uphold the Constitution. She recalls having moral objections to capital punishment before becoming a judge, but emphasizes the importance of judicial impartiality and adherence to the law.

On a lighter note, Barrett posed for a group photo at the Supreme Court on April 23, 2021, marking her first official photo with her fellow justices. She also teased her new memoir in an abrupt conference exit, promising readers a candid look into her journey as a judge and her thoughts on the Constitution and the law.

Barrett's vote to uphold Tsarnaev's death sentence has sparked debate and discussion, but her stance remains clear: she will uphold the law and the Constitution, regardless of her personal beliefs.

Battle account recounted by Amy Coney Barrett: Balancing personal beliefs versus legal mandates in new publication