Neil McGill Gorsuch

often surprise you. People to unexpected things and pigeon holes ignore gray areas in the law, of which there are a great many.
I can tell you how I think I would like to view approaching decisions. That is, first and foremost, with this thought in mind: to
those clients who are affected, to that lawyer in the well, that may be the most important thing in their life and that case
deserves the attention, the care and the scrutiny of a complete lawyer and the complete attention of the judge without being
diverted by personal politics, policy preferences, or what you ate for breakfast. Those people deserve your very best at all
times. There are certain tools that I think can get you there. First, you listen to that lawyer in the well. You do not treat them
as a cat's paw. He is not some pawn in a game to be played with and batted around. He is to be taken seriously. He has studied
this issue for, sometimes, months, years, and lived with it.” [Senate Judiciary Committee, 6/21/06]
Gorsuch Said It Would Be “Unacceptable” For A Federal Judge To Be An Idealogue. According to Gorsuch’s
testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, “Senator Graham. The best you can, describe what you think an idealogue
would be and why that would be bad. Mr. Gorsuch. In terms of being a Federal judge, Senator? Senator Graham. Yes. Mr.
Gorsuch. Someone who is not willing to do what I just talked about. That is, someone who is not willing to listen with an
open mind to the arguments of counsel, to this colleagues, and to precedent, someone who is willing to just, willy-nilly,
disregard those three things, to effect his own personal views, his politics, his personal preferences. That is unacceptable.”
[Senate Judiciary Committee, 6/21/06]
Gorsuch Said His Writings On Death With Dignity Laws Were “Largely In Defense Of Existing Law.” According to
Gorsuch’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, “Senator Graham. In the area of assisted suicide and euthanasia, I
think you have been a fairly prolific writer and you certainly have an interest in that area. How will your past positions affect
your ability to judge in cases that may contain those questions? Mr. Gorsuch. Senator, my personal views, as I hope I have
made clear, have nothing to do with the case before me in any case. The litigants deserve better than that, the law demands
more than that. That said, Senator, my writings, just to clarify, have been largely in defense of existing law, that is, they are
consistent with the Supreme Court's decisions in this area and existing law in most places. So, I do not think there is actually
much tension between my writings and anything that might come before the court, but I can pledge to this Committee,
Senator, that I will reach any question before me, should I become a judge, with an open mind and listen tot he arguments of
counsel, the views of my colleagues and prior case law from the Supreme Court, and the various Courts of Appeals.” [Senate
Judiciary Committee, 6/21/06]
JULY 2006: GORSUCH’S APPOINTMENT WAS CONFIRMED
July 2006: The Judiciary Committee Approved Gorsuch’s Nomination. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The
committee also approved separately by voice vote the nominations of: - Neil M. Gorsuch to be U.S. Circuit judge for the 10th
Circuit.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/13/06]
July 2006: The Senate Confirmed Gorsuch’s Appointment. According to the Denver Post, “Denver native Neil Gorsuch
won U.S. Senate confirmation Thursday night to the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Gorsuch's nomination was
approved on a voice vote. Individual votes weren't tallied because the nomination wasn't deemed controversial.” [Denver Post,
7/21/06]
Gorsuch Was Approved To The U.S. Appeals Court By Voice Vote In The Senate. According to Star-News, “Of
the three leading candidates, only Pryor faced significant opposition when nominated to the appeals court. Senate
Democrats refused to allow a vote on his nomination, leading Bush initially to give Pryor a temporary recess appointment.
In 2005, the Senate confirmed him 53-45, after senators reached an agreement to curtail delaying tactics for appellate
judgeships. Gorsuch was approved by a voice vote in 2006.” [Star-News, 1/25/17]
“Feeder Judge”
Gorsuch Was Known As A “Feeder Judge” Who Regularly Placed Clerks With U.S. Supreme Court Justices.
According to The Denver Post, “David Lat, managing editor of the legal website Above the Law, points to Gorsuch ‘s stellar
academic pedigree and national connections, but also to his age 49 and primed for an extended run as reasons to consider him
among the favorites for the nomination. (One website even has its own ‘fantasy league’ tally underway a decidedly unscientific
poll but one aimed at a largely legal minded audience that shows Gorsuch leading the pack.) Lat also notes Gorsuch ‘s status as
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