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

    Bill Cassidy (R)

    Senator Cassidy issued the following statement on January 31, 2017:[5]

    “

    Judge Gorsuch is an intelligent conservative and will bring a necessary perspective to ensure a fair and balanced Supreme Court. A swift confirmation is imperative while the seat remains open. The recent election gave the American people a voice in this debate and they made themselves heard by electing President Trump to fill this vacancy. Any action to prevent or delay a vote on Gorsuch's nomination is purely political and opposed to the wishes of the American people. [3]

    		”

    John Kennedy (R)

    Senator Kennedy released the following statement after meeting with Judge Gorsuch on February 13, 2017:[6]

    “

    I had a productive and informative meeting with Judge Neil Gorsuch this evening to discuss his recent nomination to the Supreme Court. We used this time to get to know each other better personally as well as professionally ... I look forward to continuing our discussions about his judicial philosophy, the decisions he has authored, and his views on the U.S. Constitution. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I believe that the American people deserve a full and fair vetting of the next Supreme Court Justice and look forward to the rest of the confirmation process. [3]

    		”

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

    “

    The role of the Senate is to provide ‘advice and consent.’ Many Americans are going to have to live with this Justice the rest of their natural lives. His decisions will affect many facets of their lives, economically, socially, culturally, and spiritually,” said Sen. Kennedy. “The American people deserve a full and fair vetting process. I like what I see so far, but look forward to learning more in the confirmation process. Neil Gorsuch is obviously very well-qualified based on his education and background, but I want to know what’s in his heart. I want to know what he thinks about past Supreme Court decisions and how the Justices reached those decisions. I want to know whether he thinks personal preferences have a role in the judicial decision-making. I want to know if he knows the name of the person who cleans his office. Also, I’m rather fond of the U.S. Constitution, and I want to make sure he is, too. [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. ↑ The Advocate, "Louisiana leaders react to Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch," January 31, 2017
    6. ↑ Senator John Kennedy, "U.S. Senator Kennedy (R-LA) issues statement after meeting with Judge Neil Gorsuch," February 13, 2017
    7. ↑ AmericanPress.com, "Sen. Kennedy: 'I like what I see so far' about Gorsuch," January 31, 2017
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