Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the supreme court Monday by what was essentially a party line vote in the senate of 52 to 48. She is expected to begin work as a justice Tuesday. Barrett is joining the court at an unusual moment.

The justices are meeting remotely by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, both for their private conferences and public argument sessions, at least through the end of 2020.

Other election-related issues are pending at the high court, which next week also will hear a clash of LGBTQ rights and religious freedoms. The fate of the Affordable Care Act is on the agenda on Nov. 10, and Trump himself last week reiterated his opposition to the Obama-era law. “I hope they end it,” he said in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”

The teenager who recorded the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May will be honored in December by PEN America, the literary and human rights organization.
Darnella Frazier will be presented the PEN/Benenson Courage Award.

“With nothing more than a cell phone and sheer guts, Darnella changed the course of history in this country, sparking a bold movement demanding an end to systemic anti-Black racism and violence at the hands of police,” PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement Tuesday.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, PEN had postponed its annual gala from May 19, six days before Floyd’s death, to Dec. 8, and will host the event online.

For the fourth consecutive week, positive COVID-19 tests on campus have dropped. There appears to be no positive cases linked to classrooms and labs. Designated campus quarantine areas remain at 50% availability.

The Center for Well Being now offers COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals.

Josie Morss can be reached at josie.morss@stthomas.edu.