Trump’s conservative pick for top court sets up bitter political showdown in Washington
Donald Trump has seized an unusual early opportunity to put conservatives back in the majority on America’s top court
US President Donald Trump’s nomination of circuit court judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacant seat on the supreme court has set up a showdown with congressional Democrats and activists over a pick that could shape the ideological bent of the court for a generation.
Gorsuch, 49, the youngest supreme court nominee in 25 years, was among a group of federal judges reported in recent weeks to be on Trump’s shortlist. A strict adherent of judicial restraint known for sharply-written opinions and bedrock conservative views, Gorsuch, a Colorado native, is popular among his peers and is seen as having strong backing among Republicans generally.
Trump’s choice of Gorsuch marks perhaps the most significant decision of his young presidency, one with ramifications that could last long after he leaves office.
The nomination landed at a moment of sharply-increasing alarm amongst progressives that the Trump administration planned to pursue extremist policies on core questions likely to come before the court, from religious equality to abortion rights, voting rights, access to healthcare, LGBT rights, anti-discrimination protections and more.
“Here they come. Here they come. So was that a surprise? Was it?” said Trump, ever the showman.
“He could have had any job at any law firm for any amount of money, but what he wanted to do with his career was to be a judge, to write decisions, and to make an impact by upholding our laws and our Constitution.”
