WATCH: Sen. Mazie Hirono questions Amy Coney Barrett about potential election case

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, questioned Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 14, the third day of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Hirono asked about Barrett’s writings on several cases, ultimately wondering whether her previous work on Bush v. Gore would be a conflict of interest if a case about the results of the 2020 presidential election were to come before the court. “Do you think that having three justices who have worked on the Republican side on Bush v. Gore -- you’re one of those justices, should you be confirmed -- creates an appearance of conflict if an election case involving a president who nominated you comes before the court?” Hirono said. “I answered that question before and said any question of whether there was an appearance of partiality problem would be one for all justices involved to consider under the recusal statute,” Barrett said. “My question was whether it poses an appearance of conflict, and I believe the fact that you would even bring forth the recusal process says to me that voters might decide there is an appearance of conflict,” Hirono said.

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