Gorsuch laments attacks on judiciary

WASHINGTON • President Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on the judicial branch drew denunciation Wednesday from his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who told lawmakers the attacks were “demoralizing” and “disheartening” to the independence of the federal courts.

“He certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing and abhorrent comments made by President Trump about the judiciary,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal told reporters after meeting privately with Gorsuch.

Gorsuch’s comments to Blumenthal were confirmed by Ron Bonjean, a member of the judge’s “Sherpa” team, a group of aides tasked with helping him navigate the confirmation process.

Earlier in the day, Trump continued his days-long crusade against the judicial branch, after a Seattle judge halted his controversial executive order barring immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Now, a three- judge panel in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is deliberating on whether Trump’s executive order should be allowed to continue.

Speaking at a convention of major city police chiefs, the president insinuated the judicial branch has become too political, and the decision before them was clear cut.

“But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what’s right,” Trump added.

James Rob art, a federal-district court judge who initially stopped the implementation of Trump’s order, has also been the subject of angry tweets from the president, who called him a “socalled” judge.