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

    Richard Blumenthal (D)

    Senator Blumenthal released the following statement after meeting with Judge Neil Gorsuch on February 8, 2017:[5]

    “

    As the nominee of a President who has viciously attacked the independence of the judiciary and declared multiple litmus tests for justices, Judge Gorsuch has a special responsibility to reassure the American people that he will be an open-minded and independent jurist. Behind closed doors, Judge Gorsuch expressed disappointment with President Trump’s attacks on the judiciary, but a Supreme Court Justice must prove that he has the courage and independence to stand up to a President in public. I asked Judge Gorsuch to make that statement publicly, and he declined. If he wants the American people to believe that he is truly independent, Judge Gorsuch must tell them in no uncertain terms that President Trump’s attacks are not just disappointing – they are abhorrent and destructive to our Constitutional system – and he must condemn them publicly ... I appreciated Judge Gorsuch visiting me, but I was disappointed that he was not more forthcoming and specific in a number of his responses to my questions. To quote Judge Gorsuch from one of his own opinions, 'there’s an elephant in the room with us today.' Here, it’s President Trump. President Trump has said he will only nominate someone who is 'pro-life,' 'pro-Second Amendment,' and of 'conservative bent.' Judge Gorsuch must state his own views or else we will be left to assume that he meets the Trump litmus test. Unfortunately, Judge Gorsuch’s noncommittal responses in our meeting today did nothing to allay my concerns that he will simply rubber stamp President Trump’s destructive policies. [3]

    		”

    Blumenthal was interviewed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer on January 31, 2017:[6]

    Blumenthal released the following statement on January 31, 2017:[7]

    “

    I have deep, serious concerns about Judge Gorsuch. Whatever his credentials are on paper, most important to me are the real life impacts of his judicial opinions and views. An extreme ideologue on the Court will threaten privacy rights including women’s health care, worker and consumer protections, and public health and safety.

    We should strive to insulate the Court from partisan politics – which includes rejecting an ideologically extreme nominee. I have reached no conclusion, but I will support a hearing and a vote. If I conclude that Judge Gorsuch is out of the mainstream, then I will pursue every legal tool available to block his nomination. [3]

    		”

    Christopher Murphy (D)

    Senator Murphy released the following statement on January 31, 2017:[8]

    “

    I want a Supreme Court Justice who will fairly interpret the law, uphold the Constitution, and keep politics out of the courtroom. I want a mainstream judge, not an ideological partisan. I’ll take a close look at Judge Gorsuch’s record and judicial philosophy, and ultimately make my decision based on whether he meets those straightforward expectations. [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 Richard Blumenthal, "Blumenthal Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch," February 8, 2017
    6. ↑ YouTube, "Sen Richard Blumenthal Speaks on Judge Neil Gorsuch Nominated To The Supreme Court," January 31, 2017
    7. ↑ Facebook, "Senator Richard Blumenthal," January 31, 2017
    8. ↑ Senator Chris Murphy, "Murphy statement on President Trump's Supreme Court announcement," January 31, 2017
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