Supreme Court pick refuses to play politics

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch batted away Democrats’ efforts to get him to reveal his views on abortion, guns and other controversial issues, stating he keeps “an open mind for the entire process” when he makes rulings. His comments were similar in response to questions from majority Republicans.

“I have no difficulty ruling against or for any party other than based on what the law and the facts of a particular case require,” Gorsuch told the panel. “And I'm heartened by the support I have received from people who recognize that there's no such thing as a Republican judge or a Democratic judge – we just have judges in this country.

As Tuesday’s questioning wore on, senators and Gorsuch engaged in a routine well-established in recent confirmation hearings. The nominee declines all requests to say how he feels about Supreme Court decisions, even as he is asked about them again and again. Such was the case with questions about rulings on campaign finance, abortion, gun rights and others.

The 49-year-old Denver appeals court judge kept a smile on his face most of the day, despite wide-ranging attacks by Democrats.

Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois pressed Gorsuch on widely-refuted claims by a former student at the University of Colorado Law School who said Gorsuch implied in a legal ethics class in April that he believes many female job applicants unfairly manipulate companies. She remem- bered him saying that many accept job offers but quickly leave with maternity benefits.

“Those are not my words and I would never have said them,” Gorsuch said. He later explained he was teaching students about inappropriate questions from prospective employers, not endorsing such inquiries. Other students told the AP the accuser was misconstruing the lesson.