Neil Gorsuch Pros And Cons

It has been nearly a year since the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. In that time, we have witnessed a revolt by senate Republicans over Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland, a presidential election in which Republican’s promised a nominee to succeed Scalia, and now, the nomination of Neil Gorsuch. But who exactly is President Trump’s nominee? Neil Gorsuch, age 49, if confirmed, would become the youngest sitting Supreme Court Justice since Clarence Thomas was confirmed as an Associate Justice in 1981 under George H.W. Bush’s administration. Like both Thomas and Scalia, Gorsuch is considered an ardent originalist, adhering to a strict and textual interpretation to the Constitution. Those who have read his opinions seem to attribute …show more content…
He obtained his bachelors degree from Columbia University in 1988 before going on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1991. Additionally, he has a Doctorate in Legal Philosophy form the University of Oxford which he recieved in 2004. Although his academic record is stellar, his actual legal experience may be considered even more impressive. Following his tenure at Harvard Law, Gorsuch served as a clerk for Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He also served as a clerk for Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy. Between 1995 and 2006 he worked as a partner for the reputable Kellog Huber, Hanson, Todd, Evans and Figel, in addition to briefly serving as a deputy associate attorney general. From 2006 onward, he has served as a Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. For his 2006 seat on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Gorsuch was also subjected to the nomination process. During this time, it should be noted that he received high praise from members of both parties. In fact, during his senator confirmation, no senator objected to the “intelligent, thoughtful, and appreciative nominee”. Ken Salazar (D-Col) would also praise Gorsuch as having “impressive …show more content…
Gorsuch’s stances on many of the more divisive issues facing the United States are practically as unclear as the vocabulary of his predecessor. On immigration, he has offered no definitive ruling. However, being an ardent constitutionalist, he has stated "A government of diffused powers, [omit] is a government less capable of invading the liberties of the people.” This seems to signal trouble for a President who has issued executive orders at an unprecedented rate and of remarkable scope. On abortion, Gorsuch has never given an opinion, but has been known to err on the side of religious freedom. What many liberals may find appealing is the fact that Gorsuch is a conservationist. During his tenure as a Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, he sided with renewable energy in upholding the environmental regulations placed upon the Coal Industry. His stances on other issues such as gun rights, recreational marijuana, and other hot button topics remain shrouded in