Conservative judge is Trump’s pick for SC
Gorsuch is a fierce defender of the Constitution
Washington, Feb. 1: Neil Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge, was on Wednesday nominated to the US Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, making him the youngest nominee in 25 years who could shape the top court’s conservative bent and tilt the balance on divisive issues such as gun-control and religious equality.
Mr Gorsuch, 49, is Mr Trump’s pick to fill a vacancy caused by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago. He currently serves in the US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Colorado and was among a group of federal judges reported in recent weeks to be on Mr Trump’s shortlist.
His nomination underscores the fast-rising conservative’s potential to shape major decisions on divisive issues such as abortion, gun-control, the death penalty, religious and LGBT rights, access to healthcare and anti-discrimination protections. “I am proud to announce the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for Justice of the Supreme Court,” Mr Trump said in a televised prime-time event from the East Room of the White House. “Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline and has earned bipartisan support,” he said adding, “It is an extraordinary resume as good as it gets.”
Mr Gorsuch is seen as an “originalist” who believes in the American Constitution’s original intent and meaning. Outlining his legal ideas, Mr Gorsuch said: “It is the rule of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people’s representatives. A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge.”