Politicians praise and pan Supreme Court pick

It didn’t take long. As soon as President Donald Trump announced his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Florida’s politicians rushed to their partisan corners.

Republican reviews were unfailingly positive; Democrats — with one big, wait-and-see exception — were critical. It continued Wednesday, as Florida leaders praised and panned Judge Neil Gorsuch.

State Rep. Shevrin Jones, DWest Park, described Gorsuch as “another extremist.”

Speaking Wednesday during a conference call organized by liberal groups, Jones said: “We need individuals who are going to be progressive and move the agenda in the direction that this country needs to make sure that no one is discriminated against and that everyone has a chance or right to life and that everyone who lives in this country is free, as free as can be.”

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., hailed the nomination within minutes of Trump’s announcement Tuesday night.

“Judge Gorsuch is a highly qualified, mainstream jurist,” Rubio said in a statement. “By all accounts he has the right temper- ament and experience for the job, and I’m pleased to see him nominated to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Most importantly, he is committed to the principles of original intent and judicial restraint. This is critical, because too many in the federal judiciary today believe it is appropriate for judges to invent new policies and rights instead of