Born in New Orleans, the eldest of seven children, Barrett graduated from Rhodes College before receiving a full scholarship to Notre Dame Law School where she graduated first in her class.
Barrett went on to clerk for Judge Laurence Silberman and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, before going into private practice. She returned to Notre Dame Law School and taught classes in 2002 before becoming a professor in 2010.
Barrett's selection was widely anticipated, with many media outlets touting her as the leading candidate for the nomination. She has already faced concerted media scrutiny and criticism for her Catholic faith.
During her 2017 nomination hearing, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) questioned her on her personal faith and values, saying that "when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that's of concern."
Barrett and her husband have seven children, including two adopted from Haiti. In a 2019 interview at a Notre Dame alumni event in Washington, DC, Barrett said that raising children is "where you have your greatest impact on the world" and that she could imagine no greater thing. In anticipation of her nomination, in recent days media criticism has also turned to the size of the judge's family
During Barrett's confirmation hearings, questions were also raised about Barrett's association with the lay organization People of Praise.
People of Praise has been referred to in the media as a "cult," and criticized for a practice, which has since been changed, that called leaders "heads" and "handmaidens"--both of which are references to Biblical passages.
People of Praise was founded in 1971 as part of a "great emergence of lay ministries and lay movements in the Catholic Church," following Vatican Council II, Bishop Peter Smith, a member of the organization, told CNA.
The group began with 29 members who formed a "covenant"- an agreement, not an oath, to follow common principles, to give five percent of annual income to the group, and to meet regularly for spiritual, social, and service projects.
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.