The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has opened confirmation hearings on Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

The panel’s chairman, Republican Chuck Grassley, opened the first day of hearings with statements about what the judges role should be in interpreting the laws of our country:

Grassley emphasized that judges should not rewrite the laws of the people:

Gorsuch’s nomination has been cheered by Republicans and praised by some left-leaning legal scholars.

Democrats headed into the committee hearings divided over how hard to fight him.

Questioning of Judge Gorsuch will begin on Tuesday. </s> On Monday, the Senate will start several days of hearings involving Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s nominee to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Here is a quick overview of what to expect.

1. The hearings start at 11 a.m. on Monday in the Senate Judiciary committee. They will be broadcast live on C-SPAN and other media television and Internet outlets. Here is a link to the official live stream: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/nomination-of-the-honorable-neil-m-gor

 

 2. The first day of hearings won’t feature much of Gorsuch. Committee members are expected to make speeches that day, with Gorsuch in attendance. He will also read a statement later in the day. Testimony about Gorsuch’s nomination will be at the committee’s conference room at the Hart Senate Office Building.Senator Chuck Grassley, the committee chair, will run the hearings, with as many as 20 Senators making statements and asking questions.

3. Senator Chuck Grassley, the committee chair, will run the hearings, with as many as 20 Senators making statements and asking questions. There are 11 Republicans and 9 Democrats on the commitee.

4. The committee will be reviewing Gorsuch’s past judicial decisions and other public comments. If you are really interested, the Judiciary Committee has published, on its website, the candidate questionnaire and other materials collected related to his nomination, with nearly 200,000 pages of documents. Here is the link: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/supreme/pn55-115

5. Gorsuch is expected to testify on Tuesday, March 21. He has been preparing for questions over the past few weeks, with help from the White House counsel’s office and former Senator Kelly Ayotte.

6. The Democrats will grill Gorsuch over some of his decisions on the 10th Circuit bench. In all, Gorsuch wrote 240 opinions over a decade of service at that federal court.

7. Gorsuch’s in-person testimony may only last one day- but that could be a long day! That was the hope expressed by Grassley when he scheduled the hearings back in February. “That could be a short day if we’ve got one round. Or if we’ve got two rounds or three rounds, it could get to be a long day, but … my intention is to get it done that one day,” Grassley said last month.

8. The remaining day (or two) will add testimony from expert witnesses. Outside witnesses and members of the American Bar Association are expected to testify on the final day of hearings.

9. Will the hearings last for just three days? The hearings for Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor each lasted four days. Kagan testified for two full days back in 2010 as did Sotomayor in 2009. In 2006, Samuel Alito testified for 18 hours over a 2 ½ period and answered about 700 questions, according to official transcripts. Alito’s entire hearing process lasted five days.

10. What kind of questions will Gorsuch get? In prior years, past e-mails, memos, law review articles, and public statements have been questioned by the Senators, along with case decisions and general questions about the Constitution.

After the hearings, the committee will vote to recommend the nomination to the full Senate for a vote in the weeks following the hearing. Once a committee recommendation is made, then the full Senate will take up the debate, including the threat of a filibuster from the Democrats. </s> The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday opens hearings on Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court. Liberal and conservative groups have been marshaling their forces for and against the nominee. </s> Neil Gorsuch testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his nomination to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court during a hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2017.

Gorsuch says he’s made no promises for rulings

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is telling senators that he keeps “an open mind for the entire process” when he issues rulings.

“No such thing as a Republican judge or a Democratic judge”: Gorsuch

Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court pick, said on Tuesday he would have no trouble ruling against the president because there’s “no such thing as a Republican judge or a Democratic judge.”

Gorsuch: No difficulty ruling against any party

In his second day of confirmation hearings, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch says he has no trouble ruling against anyone, even President Donald Trump, if that’s what the law requires.

Judge Neil Gorsuch gave his opening statement on Monday, the first day of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “If I am confirmed, I will do all my powers permit, to be a faithful servant to the constitution and laws of this great nation,” Gorsuch said. </s> WASHINGTON- Senate hearings begin this morning for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the man President Donald Trump wants to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died more than a year ago. Gorsuch is a respected, highly credentialed and conservative member of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

And Democrats head into the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings divided over how hard to fight him. </s> Washington (CNN) More than one year after the death Justice Antonin Scalia, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing for a nominee to succeed him on the Supreme Court.

Judge Neil Gorsuch will appear Monday before senators looking to pin him down on his philosophy -- and some will air grievances about why Gorsuch is even here at all. Gorsuch, for his part, will try to defend his approach without discussing specific cases or damaging his smooth nomination in any way.

The Judiciary Committee has four days of hearings scheduled. Here's what to expect:

Democrats get their grill on

Supreme Court justices spend their careers safely ensconced with life tenure in the quiet chambers of the marble palace.

With the stroke of a pen and a packet of opinions the justices can dismantle a major piece of legislation and dash the dreams of those who toil away across the street in the Capitol. As such, senators have one -- and only one -- chance to grill a potential nominee, and express displeasure about past Supreme Court rulings.

Before hearing from Gorsuch, each senator on the Judiciary Committee will get 10 minutes to talk. Members on both sides will strut their constitutional stuff.

Democrats will also use the hearing to go after Trump's early actions such as his travel ban for people from seven -- then revised to six -- majority-Muslim countries, which has been blocked by federal courts from coast to coast.

A glimpse of Gorsuch

After more than three hours of listening Gorsuch will then take the oath, and finally start talking. His opening statement -- expected Monday afternoon -- will be the first glimpse of Gorsuch's views since his "Celebrity Apprentice"- type unveiling on January 31. Gorsuch, an eloquent speaker, is likely to dazzle the audience with a nod to the limited role of the court and the humble job of a judge.

Often it is the opening statement that the public most remembers. Chief Justice John Roberts spoke about calling "balls and strikes" while Justice Sonia Sotomayor detailed the "human consequences" of her decisions and the role her mother played in bringing her out of the projects.

It's an opportunity for Gorsuch, who has spent the past few weeks on a listening tour through Congress, to assert his personality and set the tone.

What he'll say and what he won't

In a time-honored tradition, senators will do their best to get Gorsuch to speak about hot-button issues that could come before the court like immigration, abortion and national security, and he will attempt to gracefully dodge the line of inquiry.

Look for Gorsuch to refer to something called the "Ginsburg standard." The term was coined after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's hearings. She responded more freely about issues and opinions she had already written about, but steered clear of cases that could come before the court in order to guard her impartiality.

Other justices, included Chief Justice John Roberts, referred to the "Ginsburg standard" in order to avoid answering questions about current cases and controversies.

Expect to hear versions of "Every case is different" and "I wouldn't want to pre-judge without looking at all the facts."

The Trump dilemma

Donald Trump has already changed Neil Gorsuch's life by offering him a dream job.

But how does Gorsuch handle the fact that Trump has lambasted specific federal judges when they ruled against him? Very carefully. The hearing will provide the first chance for Gorsuch to publicly refute Trump's judicial attacks.

Through a spokesperson he made it clear in February that he thought such attacks were "disheartening," but now he might have to answer directly.

He'll likely find a way of condemning the comments but not the man. Whatever he says, it will be well practiced. He'll be pressed on his views on executive power as well. Muslim ban? Wiretapping? Limits of regulatory state? Although they may not get the answers they seek, Democrats are sure to launch the inquiry.

The Garland Grievance

One of Gorsuch's first acts as a Supreme Court nominee was to telephone Judge Merrick Garland, the man who was nominated by President Barack Obama for Justice Scalia's seat.

While some Democrats will undoubtedly refer to the seat as "stolen" from Garland, others will be forward-looking.

Democrats have to tread carefully and gauge whether they want to save some firepower. Why? At the end of the day, what is at stake is returning the court to the status quo from before Scalia's death. Gorsuch, a conservative, is replacing a conservative. Some might think that it makes sense to save the big fight if Trump gets another chance to name a Supreme Court justice.

After all, if Justice Kennedy, or a liberal were to step down that could significantly change the balance of power for years to come. That fight could be a battle royale, and make the Gorsuch hearings pale in comparison. </s> Supreme Court Justice nominee, Neil Gorsuch meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. Last year, Senate Republicans, led by McConnell, blocked a confirmation hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's pick for the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia who died in February 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

On Monday, Neil Gorsuch was named President Donald Trump’s nominee for the vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Senate Republicans have expressed their support of Gorsuch at the same time that Democrats are reminding them that President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, was never given a Senate committee hearing.

The road to fill the late Antonin Scalia’s seat could be a rocky one for Gorsuch.

>>What is the nuclear option and what does it have to do with Neil Gorsuch's nomination?

Here’s a look at the process Gorsuch, a justice on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, now finds himself a part of.

1. The president selects a nominee – On the death, retirement or impeachment of a Supreme Court justice, the president has a constitutional duty to nominate someone to take his or her place.

Article Two of the U.S. Constitution – the "Appointments Clause" – gives the executive branch the authority to appoint court justices. The clause reads in part, "… he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... judges of the supreme court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law..."

Not an easy task, the president generally looks for a person with substantial judicial experience; one who shares his ideology (almost always a member of the same political party), and one who actually has a chance to be confirmed by the Senate.

Before the nominee is announced, he or she is investigated by the FBI and other agencies.

2. The confirmation process – Who can served on the High Court? Anyone, really, since the Constitution does not set qualifications for a Supreme Court justice. The only hurdle the Constitution requires is that the nominee be confirmed by the Senate in order to take a seat on the court.

Once that nominee is put forth by the president, the nomination will go before the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. The committee is currently made up of 11 members of the majority party (the Republicans) and nine members of the minority party (the Democrats). That ratio of members is based on the ratio of majority to minority members of Senate.

The Judiciary Committee will hold hearings, questioning the nominee, supporters and opponents. The nominee attends the hearings which can last for days, despite the fact the Constitution does not require a nominee to testify. The Committee's practice of personally interviewing nominees isn’t an historical one. The committee only began to do that in the 1940s.

After the hearings, a vote is taken in the committee. The nominee will receive a favorable recommendation, a negative one or the nomination will be reported to the full Senate with no recommendation.

3. The floor vote – If the nomination makes it out of the committee and to the Senate floor, it is at the mercy of the majority party since that party sets the agenda for Senate action. The Majority Leader, currently Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, will determine when the nomination sees the light of day on the full Senate floor. There is no time frame for him to act.

Likewise, once the nomination makes it to the floor, debate could go on for an indefinite time period since there is no limit on debate on a nomination. If it does get to a vote, it’s a simple majority vote to either confirm of reject a nominee.

4. An end-run – While Senate confirmation is required for a nominee to be appointed to the Supreme Court, if the president wants to, he can make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy without the Senate having anything to do with it or even being in session. If the Senate is on recess, the president can make something called a “recess appointment” – meaning he simply appoints someone to the vacant court seat. The person appointed would serve on the court until the end of the next Senate session. After that point, the person appointed must go through the formal process of being nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Potter Stewart was the last recess appointment to the Supreme Court made in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. </s> WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee praised President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick on Monday for an "unfailing commitment" to the principle of separation of powers, as Judge Neil Gorsuch's confirmation hearing got underway.

"His grasp on the separation of powers — including judicial independence — enlivens his body of work," Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in opening remarks to begin the long-awaited hearing 13 months after Justice Antonin Scalia's death created a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The court opening was never filled last year as Republicans blocked President Barack Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, until a new president could be elected. Senate Democrats remain furious about that GOP obstruction and are under intense pressure from liberal base voters opposed to Trump, but they enter the hearing divided over how hard to fight his court choice.

"I'm deeply disappointed it's under these circumstances that we begin these hearings," the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, said in her opening remarks, referencing Garland's treatment.

Still, she said senators' responsibility through the hearing was to determine whether Gorsuch is a "reasonable mainstream conservative, or is he not."

Gorsuch, 49, is a respected, highly credentialed and conservative member of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He arrived in the large and crowded hearing room Monday with amiable smiles all around, and introduced his wife, Louise, other family members as well as law clerks, remarking, "I consider them family, too."

Gorsuch then settled in to listen as Grassley and Feinstein delivered opening statements, which were to be followed by opening remarks from all the other 20 committee members before Gorsuch gets his chance to speak.

Republican Senate leaders intend to move quickly on the nomination. Grassley announced plans for a committee vote on April 3, which would be followed by a vote in the full Senate later that week.

The nomination has been surprisingly low-key thus far on a Capitol Hill distracted by Trump-driven controversies over wiretapping and Russian spying as well as attempts to pass a divisive health care bill. The hearings give Democratic senators a chance to press Gorsuch on issues such as judicial independence, given Trump's attacks on the judiciary, as well as what they view as Gorsuch's own history of siding with corporations in his 10 years on the bench.

Gorsuch's supporters dispute such criticism and argue that the judge is exceptionally well-qualified by background and temperament, mild-mannered and down to earth, the author of lucid and well-reasoned opinions.

Gorsuch told Democratic senators during private meetings that he was disheartened by Trump's criticism of judges who ruled against the president's immigration ban, but Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and others were dissatisfied with those comments and are looking for a more forceful stance on that issue and others.

Democrats have struggled with how to handle the Gorsuch nomination, especially since the nominee is hardly a fire-breathing bomb-thrower. Democrats are under intense pressure from liberal voters to resist Trump at every turn, and many remain irate over the treatment of Garland, who was denied so much as a hearing last year by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Several of the more liberal Senate Democrats have already announced plans to oppose Gorsuch and seek to block his nomination from coming to a final vote. But delay tactics by Democrats could lead McConnell to exercise procedural maneuvers of his own to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold now in place for Supreme Court nominations, and with it any Democratic leverage to influence the next Supreme Court fight.

Republicans control the Senate 52-48. The filibuster rule, when invoked, requires 60 of the 100 votes to advance a bill or nomination, contrasted with the simple 51-vote majority that applies in most cases. </s> Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 21, 2017. The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to become the newest associate justice on the Supreme Court Friday, April 7.

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, bringing a contentious 14-month partisan battle to a close after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The vote was 54-45 on Friday. The victory gives President Donald Trump's 49-year-old nominee a lifetime spot on the court and his party a much-needed political win after failing to pass legislation on health care and other issues.

The final confirmation vote came after Senate Republicans rewrote the chamber's rules, voting to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold on Supreme Court nominees. The change allowed the Senate to proceed to the final vote with a simple majority.

Democrats opposed Gorsuch in part because Senate Republicans blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, last year.
The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings on the nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States.