New US Supreme Court Justice has roots in Ballyconnell

The long-term academic, a judge on the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, was widely tipped for the Supreme Court seat before President Trump put her name forward.

The latest US Supreme Court appointee has Cavan roots.

The newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is the US president Donald Trump’s appointment to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The long-term academic, a judge on the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, was widely tipped for the Supreme Court seat before President Trump put her name forward.

Her maternal great-grandparents hailed from Ballyconnell, Cavan and she also has Irish ancestry on her father’s side. As a devout Catholic who has Irish heritage, political observers are considering how her nomination may affect the outcome of the presidential election.

At 48, Ms Barrett is the youngest justice, and her tenure could last for decades. Judge Coney Barrett was confirmed by 52 votes to 48 by the US Senate.