On Tuesday, 31st January, 2017, President Donald Trump, selected Neil Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge, as the U.S. Supreme Court judge, tapping a conservative jurist who brings a polished resume to the job.
Gorsuch would take the seat, which is left open by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, and legal analysts say that, Gorsuch’s judicial philosophy is similar to the judge whose seat he could fill without the divisiveness of some of other contenders.
At a primetime announcement held in the White House, Trump said, “Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous disciple, and has earned bipartisan support.”
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In Trump’s young presidency, it was the highest-profile decision, and if Gorsuch is confirmed, it will restore a 5-4 split between liberal-leaning and conservative learning justices on the bench. Justice Anthony Kennedy, aged 80, who is the court’s swing vote, is in the middle of the divide.
But, Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing could be pitched for a political battle. To confirm Judge Merrick Garland, former president Barack Obama’s nominee for the seat, Democrats are still seething over the GOP’s refusal, and some of the lawmakers are already threatening to block him.
Democrats may still find it harder to fight Gorsuch, who acquired degrees from Columbia University, Harvard Law School, and he was a classmate of Obama, in the University of Oxford. Before he joined George W. Bush’s Justice Department, in 2005, he clerked for two Supreme Court justices and worked for a Washington law firm. Later in a year, Bush appointed him to appeals court.
After Trump announced his nomination, Gorsuch said, “When we judges don our robes, it doesn’t make us any smarter. But it does serve as a reminder of what’s expected of us: Impartiality and independence. Collegiality and courage.”
In more than a quarter century, the 49-year-old is the youngest nominee to the Supreme Court’s bench, and Gorsuch could serve on the bench for decades. The President said, “Depending on their age, a justice can be active for 50 years. And his or her decisions can last a century or more, and can often be permanent.”
Neil Gorsuch, who sits on the Denver-based appellate court, was picked from a small group of contenders that also included Thomas Hardiman, judge with the Pittsburgh-based appellate circuit, and Bill Pryor, a judge with the federal appeals court, Atlanta.
From Georgia Republicans, the nominee earned immediate praise. Sen. Johnny Isakson said, Gorsuch will “rule based on the law and who will not legislate through activist judicial decisions.” While Sen. David Perdue said, he was an “unwavering” defender of U.S. Constitution.
Democrats signaled that, they are ready for fight. Democratic Party of Georgia said, Americans should be “frightened” of his potential, to overturn Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion and coziness with big business.
Party chair, DuBose Poter said, “He has a well-documented history of favoring CEOs and corporations over the very people who drive our country’s economy. Georgia Democrats are more determined than ever to protect the rights of workers and organized labor unions.”
By Mrudula
