In a wide-ranging discussion with Free Press founder Bari Weiss, Barrett stressed the independence of federal courts and her “warm relationships” with other justices — but didn’t shy away when asked about her fiery take on a recent dissent opinion from Ketanji Brown Jackson.

But in an interview with USA TODAY, Barrett declared: "I'm nobody's justice." Indeed, she has been more independent than either faction thought at first, and is now seen as an occasional swing vote on a solidly conservative court.