Today marks the beginning of what would likely be a contentious Senate confirmation hearing for Judge Neil Gorsuch, nominated to the Supreme Court to fill the vacant seat left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He is a Federal Appellate Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit – a position given to him with strong bipartisan support from both sides of the political aisle - Democrats and Republicans.
Neil Gorsuch is known as a staunch Constitutionalist and strong adherent to the rule of law, one who is committed to textualism or originalism – someone who interprets the Constitution based on its original text and language as understood by the original writers, and someone who doesn’t view the Constitution as an evolving or living document subject to changing societal needs.
At his acceptance speech he remarked, “…in our legal order it is for Congress and not the courts to write new laws. It is the role of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people's representatives." I couldn’t agree more.
As a vigorous battle looms in the Senate for his confirmation with democrats threatening to filibuster his nomination, the possibility for Republicans going “nuclear” by changing the 60-vote threshold with a simple majority of 51 votes championed by the Democrats themselves may actually happen. Indeed it is the only one route to ensure his nomination.
A Harvard Law graduate with sterling judicial record and independence, Judge Neil Gorsuch will be a superb addition to the Supreme Court in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia - someone who will work to preserve one of the nation’s most cherished freedoms – our religious liberties, not just for Christians but for all people of faith.