Overview

• Speaking at the inaugural SCOTUSblog Summit at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg Center, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said she does not view herself as a swing justice.
• She has been a pivotal vote in recent emergency appeals, including an NIH dispute where her split position allowed the administration to cancel grants but kept a block on NIH guidance documents.
• Barrett said judges recuse for actual bias or the appearance of bias and called the latter a tricky standard that can involve personal relationships or convictions.
• Her unexplained absence from a major religious charter‑school case this term led to a 4–4 tie, leaving the lower court ruling in place and the broader questions unresolved.
• Barrett cited intimidation tactics such as unsolicited pizza deliveries to family members, said she tunes out online attacks, has no social media, and has bristled at focus on her appointment by President Trump.