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| Sen. Kamala Harris questioned SCOTUS nominee Amy Coney Barrett. |
Vice President candidate Kamala Harris and Hawaii's Sen. Mazie Hirono were among the senators able to question Amy Coney Barrett, Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee began Barrett's nomination hearings Monday and will continue for three days.
After opening statements on Monday, the two Asian American senators were able to question the nominee Tuesday. Closing statements will be heard Wednesday and a vote is scheduled for Oct. 17.
Donald Trump ordered the Senate to prioritize the hearings so that his nominee could be sworn in before the November elections.
If named to the Supreme Court, the ultra-conseravative Barrett would give the Supreme Court an overwhelming 6-3 conservative majority with the possibility of undoing over 55 years of progress and determine a rightward shift for the U.S. for at least two generations.
The hearings were held despite protests from Democrats who reminded the Republicans that they refused to hold a hearing for President Obama's nominee Merrick Garland in the last year of Obama's presidency.
Harris, speaking virtually, began by putting the controversial hearings in the context of the ongoing elections. She outlined some of the important decisions the SCOTUS will face this term, including the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act.
The Democratic senators spent most of their questioning time playing to the nationwide audience to make sure they know what is at stake of Barrett is confirmed to the High Court.
Besides the certain attacks against the ACA, the Supreme Court will face cases on transgender marriage, Roe v. Wade and possibly affirmative action.
Sen. Hirono's questioning is below:
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