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U.S. senators from Arkansas on Neil Gorsuch's nomination

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On January 31, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Scalia was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades.[1] President Trump said regarding the nomination,[2]

“

I am proud to announce the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for Justice of the Supreme Court ... This has been the most transparent and most important Supreme Court selection process in the history of our country and I wanted the American people to have a voice in this nomination. Judge Gorsuch has a superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its text. He will make an incredible Justice as soon as the Senate confirms him. [3]

”

Confirmation hearings on Gorsuch's nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee were held from March 20-23, 2017. On April 3, 2017, voting 11-9 on party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the full U.S. Senate. That same day, Senate Democrats announced that they had a sufficient number of votes to sustain a filibuster against the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. In anticipation of an expected filibuster, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated that he was prepared to restrict the use of filibusters on Supreme Court nominations, referred to as the nuclear option. The Senate voted on April 6, 2017, to end the use of filibusters on all presidential nominations and proceeded to vote to end debate on the Gorsuch nomination. Gorsuch was confirmed on a recorded 54-45 vote of the Senate on Friday, April 7, 2017, and he received his commission on Monday, April 10, 2017.[4]


HIGHLIGHTS
  • President Donald Trump (R) nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court on January 31, 2017.
  • On January 3, 2017, the first day of the 115th Congress, Republicans held a 52-48 majority in the U.S. Senate.
  • Confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee began on March 20, 2017.



    • U.S. senators from Arkansas on Neil Gorsuch's nomination

    John Boozman (R)

    Senator Boozman released the following statement on January 31, 2017:[5]

    “

    Millions of Americans went to their polling places on election day to make their voices heard on the type of jurist they want serving on the Supreme Court. They decided to put their trust in President Trump to fill the Court’s vacant seat.

    I am encouraged by how well-respected Judge Gorsuch is in legal circles and how highly experts speak of his intellect, experience and temperament which are all important qualities for the job.

    Now that the President has made his selection, we will move forward with the confirmation process. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, regardless of party, will respect the will of the voters and treat him fairly during the confirmation process. [3]

    		”

    Tom Cotton (R)

    Senator Cotton released the following statement after meeting Judge Neil Gorsuch on February 8, 2017:[6]

    “

    I was very impressed by my meeting with Judge Neil Gorsuch today, as I've been impressed with his judicial record as I've reviewed it over the last week. He's exceptionally well-versed in the law, and yet for all his learning, he's an extraordinarily humble man. In our conversation, we discussed in depth judicial craft and reasoning. He walked me through how he would conduct himself on the bench and how he sees the Supreme Court's role in our constitutional democracy. He stressed that a judge should interpret the law as it's written, not impose his beliefs on the people. And he showed a profound respect for the Constitution. I also think the Court would benefit from his clear and incisive thinking. With great confidence in his judgment, I look forward to supporting his nomination. [3]

    		”

    Cotton issued the following statement on January 31, 2017:[7]

    “

    In nominating Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, President Trump has chosen a well-respected judge with a distinguished body of work. The Supreme Court, including the next justice, could determine the course of the law for decades. We need a nominee with a demonstrated record of interpreting the Constitution according to its text, structure, and history. These decisions are weighty-and I don't undertake them lightly. So I look forward to meeting with Judge Gorsuch soon to talk more in depth about how he sees the role of the Court and his own judicial philosophy. [3]

    		”

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The New York Times, "Justice Antonin Scalia, Who Led a Conservative Renaissance on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 79," February 13, 2016
    2. ↑ The White House, "President Donald J. Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court," January 31, 2017
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Politico, "Gorsuch confirmation hearing set for March 20," February 16, 2017
    5. ↑ Senator John Boozman, "Statement on nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court," January 31, 2017
    6. ↑ Senator Tom Cotton, "Cotton Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch," February 8, 2017
    7. ↑ Senator Tom Cotton, "Cotton statement on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch," January 31, 2017
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