New Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch
By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
On a predictable 54-45 vote Friday morning that was almost entirely along party lines, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court as an associate justice, restoring what many believe is a philosophical balance on the high court.
Three Democrats joined the majority Republicans in a voice vote that was a defeat for Capitol Hill anti-gunners and the gun prohibition lobby led by Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety. It was a decided victory for President Donald Trump, and an affirmation that he kept a campaign promise to fill the vacancy with someone in the tradition of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away about 15 months ago in Texas, said three national gun rights organizations.
Anti-gun Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) the Senate Minority Leader, displayed the same sore loser attitude that has permeated Capitol Hill politics since Trump won the presidency in November. He was quoted by Fox News asserting that there will be “less faith in the Supreme Court.”
Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to keep and Bear Arms, said in a statement, “The court has been shy one critical vote and voice for more than a year. We are delight that time has come to an end.” Gottlieb is also founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation.
Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, congratulated Gorsuch on his confirmation, noting in a statement, “Gorsuch is an excellent choice to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Scalia.”
The confirmation also signifies a larger defeat for Democrats, in that it followed by one day the Senate “nuclear option” vote to confirm a nominee by a simple majority rather than a minimum 60-vote majority.
“Judge Gorsuch demonstrated during two days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he is eminently qualified to occupy the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last year,” Gottlieb observed.
There are already rumors that there may soon be another vacancy on the high court, perhaps sometime this summer. That would set up perhaps another partisan conflict in the Senate.
