Even Liberals Admit Judge Gorsuch ‘A Brilliant, Terrific Guy’

‘An Impressive Résumé And Academic Background,’ ‘An Incredibly Solid, Respectable’ Pick

SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): “Judge Neil Gorsuch has an impressive résumé and academic background.” (Sen. Warner, Press Release, 1/31/17)

NEAL KATYAL, Former Solicitor General under President Obama: “Judge Gorsuch is one of the most thoughtful and brilliant judges to have served our nation over the last century. As a judge, he has always put aside his personal views to serve the rule of law. To boot, as those of us who have worked with him can attest, he is a wonderfully decent and humane person. I strongly support his nomination to the Supreme Court.” (Neal Katyal, Press Release, 1/31/17)

LAURENCE TRIBE, Legal Mentor To President Obama: “…Gorsuch is a brilliant, terrific guy who would do the Court's work with distinction.” (Twitter, @Tribelaw, 2/1/17)

JONATHAN TURLEY, Liberal Law Professor At George Washington Law School: “Gorsuch is an intellectual leader.  He fits the bill for those people that view Scalia[‘s death] as the loss of an intellectual icon. Gorsuch has that depth of analysis that you see in his opinions. He has a true sense of his jurisprudence, so he’ll come to the court with a very strong record, a very powerful writer and a very considerable intellect.” (Fox News’ “The First 100 Days,” 1/31/17)

• TURLEY: “Gorsuch is more of a ragtop roadster.  He has the ability to be a powerful intellectual leader. …very well respected.” (Fox News’ “The First 100 Days,” 1/31/17)

RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC Liberal: “It seems like the choice of Judge Gorsuch is a relatively mainstream choice you might expect from any Republican president.” (MSNBC, 1/31/17)

DAHLIA LITHWICK, Slate Liberal: “An incredibly solid, respectable, conventional pick that anyone [Republican] would have made.” (MSNBC, 1/31/17)

DAVID LANE, Democrat & Denver Plaintiff’s Attorney: “He is a very, very smart man... he's qualified to be on the Supreme Court... I don't know that Judge Gorsuch has a political agenda and he is sincere and honest and believes what he writes.” (“Gorsuch: Conservative Court Nominee Praised By Some Liberals,” AP, 1/31/17)

MARCI GLENN, Democrat & Denver Attorney: “He's smart, he's independent — thank the Lord... As a lawyer for a little guy, knowing he was a conservative judge, I still felt comfortable having him on the panel.” (“Gorsuch Has Conservative Pedigree,” AP, 1/31/17)

• “Marcy Glenn, a Denver attorney and Democrat, recalls two cases before Gorsuch in which she represented underdogs. … ‘He issued a decision that most certainly focused on the little guy,’ Glenn said.” (“Gorsuch: Conservative Court Nominee Praised By Some Liberals,” AP, 1/31/17)

“Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge in Denver and adjunct law professor at the University of Colorado, would seem a winning pick for Trump. He is widely respected among his disproportionately liberal peers, colleagues and students in Boulder, who describe him as brilliant, thoughtful and charming. Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett, a Democrat, called Gorsuch ‘very ethical’ and ‘very smart.’” …[I]f the accounts of his students at ultra-liberal CU are to believed, his demeanor and reverence for the law will serve him well...” (“Boulder's Neil Gorsuch Candidate For Supreme Court Vacancy?,” Boulder Daily Camera, 1/30/2017)

• CU Law Student And ‘Staunch Liberal’: “I found him to be a person of character and quality, intellectually curious and willing to debate all sides. . . I may not always agree with him but I do think he gives all voices a fair hearing, and that’s all you can ask of a judge... He mentored our entire class... And he often encouraged us to learn how to win and lose graciously.” (“Boulder's Neil Gorsuch Candidate For Supreme Court Vacancy?,” Boulder Daily Camera, 1/30/2017)

THE DENVER POST: “…we are encouraged by one of the names on his list to replace former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Neil Gorsuch is a federal judge in Denver with Western roots and a reputation for being a brilliant legal mind and talented writer. Those who have followed Gorsuch’s career say that from his bench in the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals he has applied the law fairly and consistently, even issuing provocative challenges to the Supreme Court to consider his rulings.” (Editorial, “Trump Would Do Well To Consider Neil Gorsuch For Supreme Court,” The Denver Post, 1/26/2017)

• “[I]n considering Gorsuch’s body of work and reputation — and yes, we like his ties to Colorado as well — we hope Trump gives him the nod... We could do far worse than a thoughtful graduate from Columbia, Harvard and Oxford universities, who clerked for two Supreme Court justices and calls Denver home.” (Editorial, “Trump Would Do Well To Consider Neil Gorsuch For Supreme Court,” The Denver Post, 1/26/2017)