Gorsuch Classmates Urge Confirmation
Classmates: “At Columbia, Neil Gorsuch notably distinguished himself among his peers. He was a serious and brilliant student who earned deep respect from teachers and students alike. . . His amiable nature, good humor and respect for differing viewpoints was admired and respected by all.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch:
“Since his nomination to the Supreme Court was announced, Judge Neil Gorsuch has received extensive praise from former colleagues, the legal community, and editorial boards, among many others. It’s praise that’s come from across the political spectrum too. Even many on the Left can’t help but compliment Judge Gorsuch’s credentials, including former President Obama’s own legal mentor who called him ‘brilliant’ and his former acting solicitor general who applauded Gorsuch’s ‘fairness and decency.’
“This week we add to that lengthy list of supporters with more than 150 of Judge Gorsuch’s former classmates at Columbia University. As they note, these alumni have followed an array of post-graduate pursuits: they are CEOs and stay at home parents, professors and lawyers, entrepreneurs and scientists. They come from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, practice different faiths, reside in different parts of the country, and hold diverse political views.
“Even so, each of these Columbia grads can agree on at least one thing: Neil Gorsuch’s fitness to serve on the Supreme Court. Let me share with you from the letter they just sent to the Judiciary Committee.
“‘At Columbia, Neil Gorsuch notably distinguished himself among his peers. He was a serious and brilliant student who earned deep respect from teachers and students alike. With an encyclopedic knowledge on a staggering array of subjects, he could be counted on for his insightful, logical and well-reasoned comments. He carried a full and challenging course-load, finishing in three years and graduating Phi Beta Kappa.’
“The letter continues:
“‘The hallmark of Neil Gorsuch’s tenure at Columbia was his unflagging commitment to respectful and open dialogue on campus.’
“‘Despite an often contentious environment, Neil was a steadfast believer that we could disagree without being disagreeable. To be sure, he could deliver a devastating argument, laden with carefully researched facts and presented in a crisp and organized manner. Yet he was always a thoughtful and fair-minded listener who would not hesitate to re-evaluate his own beliefs when presented with persuasive arguments. His amiable nature, good humor and respect for differing viewpoints was admired and appreciated by all.’
“It was clear even years ago, they say, that the ‘intellect, academic record, and character’ of their classmate Neil Gorsuch was, quote, ‘so special’ that ‘there was a shared sense that he was poised for a meaningful and purposeful future.’ How right they were.
“Judge Neil Gorsuch is exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. He has, as I just noted, an ‘encyclopedic knowledge on a staggering array of subjects … with insightful, logical and well-reasoned comments.’ He’s a ‘humble man with no appetite for self-promotion.’ And he’s ‘an upstanding person’ with ‘unyielding integrity, faith in our institutions and unfailing politeness. Those are the words of his former classmates, and they are the qualities that we expect in a Supreme Court Justice.
“Regardless of political leanings, we all should understand the importance of confirming justices who will interpret the law as written, not misuse their office to impose their own views as to what, in their mind, should have been written instead. We should understand the importance of confirming justices who will apply the law equally to all Americans, not rule based on their empathy for certain groups over others.
“I am confident that Judge Gorsuch is more than prepared to meet these critical standards. It’s the type of judge he’s been on the federal court of appeals. It’s the type of justice he will be in on the high court too. That’s why we continue to see recommendations for Gorsuch flooding in from people of all backgrounds and all political views.
“In the coming weeks, I’m sure the support for Judge Gorsuch will continue to grow. And I know we’re all eager to hear from the Judge himself when he goes before the Judiciary Committee later this month. When he does, I hope colleagues on both sides will show him the fair consideration he deserves — the same fair consideration we showed to all four of the Supreme Court nominees of Presidents Obama and Clinton after they were first elected — a respectful hearing followed by an up-or-down vote.”
Related Issues: Supreme Court, Judicial Nominations, Nominations
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