WASHINGTON, D.C., – Monday, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch offered an opening statement on the first day of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, maintaining that throughout his judicial career he treated all who came before him fairly. However, pro-justice and pro-civil rights organizations who have researched Gorsuch’s record point to evidence that Judge Gorsuch has repeatedly ruled in favor of powerful interests and corporations over the rights of everyday people, that he has shown willingness to defer to executive overreach, and that he continues to avoid relevant questions about his background and beliefs.
The hearing came as new reports emerged that Judge Gorsuch told students he taught as an adjunct professor that women often manipulated employers to obtain pregnancy benefits, and that employers were entitled to ask would-be women employees about pregnancy plans. At the same time, hearings also on Capitol Hill today focused a spotlight on possible Russian ties to the administration and Trump campaign, emphasizing that an independent judiciary is now more important than ever.
At the close of the first day of hearings Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement, “Judge Gorsuch assured the Senate Judiciary Committee today that he has treated everyone fairly who has come before him, but his record says otherwise. Judge Gorsuch has a long history of denying rights to workers, women, and consumers, while advancing the interests of the powerful and wealthy. In the last 24 hours we heard even more troubling reports about his statements and attitude toward women in particular. This nominee does not represent the core Constitutional values of the American people, and we believe Democratic Senators who spoke at today’s hearings showed their determination to hold him accountable during these hearings. We applaud Senators whose remarks today showed they intend to scrutinize this nominee on his record and philosophy. Despite what some would have us believe, this nomination is far from a done deal based on what we saw in that hearing room today.”
Democratic Senators on the Judiciary Committee made it clear they would press Judge Gorsuch on that point, as well as on his views of the rights of corporations, women’s reproductive rights, the role of money in politics, his ability to act independently of President Trump, and his support for environmental protections. Several Senators asked about specific cases in which Judge Gorsuch has ruled, including the cases of Alphonse Maddin, Grace Hwang, and Patricia Caplinger, that demonstrate his inclination to rule against consumers, workers, and people with disabilities.
