President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination came as no surprise — federal appeals court Judge Neil Gorsuch was on a list of 21 candidates Trump publicized during his campaign, and he was one of two finalists summoned Tuesday to the White House for the announcement.
Judge Neil Gorsuch.AP Photo | For lehighvalleylive.com
Gorsuch’s conservative credentials, intelligence, writing ability and wit has been recognized by those who dealt with him on the Colorado-based 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Those attributes seem to match up with former Justice Antonin Scalia, whose death last February created the current vacancy on the high court.
Senate Democrats are sure put up resistance to Gorsuch’s appointment. Given the GOP majority in the chamber, they could attempt a filibuster to try to prevent a full Senate vote, in return for the Senate’s refusal to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland by then-President Obama. If that happens, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could change the rules to block a filibuster.
The Senate Betebet Judiciary Committee will conduct hearings on Gorsuch, considered a constitutional “originalist” — a jurist who defers to the intent of the writers of the document at the time it was written. One of his notable opinions was a vote on behalf of Hobby Lobby and a Christian bookstore chain that challenged birth-control mandates in the Affordable Care Act. Given the start of the Trump administration, one of the confirmation issues will be his views on the extent of the president’s executive powers.
What do you think? Is Gorsuch a good choice to replace Scalia? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to join the conversation in the comments section.
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