Cornyn: Gorsuch Enjoys ‘Broad Spectrum’ of Support

Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court, I delivered an opening statement praising President Trump’s pick to fill the vacancy left by the late Judge Antonin Scalia. Excerpts of my remarks are below, and video of my remarks can be found here.

The Senate Judiciary Committee undertakes no task more important than the one before us: considering a nominee to the United States Supreme Court.

The nation is watching, and I think that's a really good thing.

The law is not just an academic or intellectual exercise. It has real consequences for real people.

Not one of our Democratic colleagues then in the Senate opposed Neil Gorsuch for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals because there was simply no reason to do so.

As you can see here today, his jurisprudence reflects brilliance and the humility of a man committed to the Constitution and the law. That body of work is the best guide for the kind of judge Judge Gorsuch will be.

We're not here to ask you, even though some might, how you will vote in specific cases. And it would be wrong for you to prejudge those cases, as you know.

And that's the same reason why, for example, Ruth Bader Ginsburg during her nomination hearing said a judge sworn to decide impartially can offer no forecast, no hints, for that would not only show disregard for the specifics of a particular case, it would display disdain for the entire judicial process. And our colleagues know that as well, but I expect them to ask a few questions nonetheless.

Well, lately we have heard from some that they should criticize you for failing to rule for a sympathetic constituency in one case or another. But of course as you know, Judge, if you follow the law and the facts wherever it may lead, sometimes it's for the police, sometimes for a criminal defendant, sometimes it's for a corporation, sometimes it's for an employee, sometimes it's for the government, sometimes it's against the government. That's how the rule of law works, and that's good for all Americans.

Because of your qualifications and demonstrated record of following the law, other than a few special interest groups, I believe you’ve got a broad spectrum, really surprisingly broad spectrum, of people supporting your nomination.

I'm very pleased the American people are about to learn why President Trump chose you as his nominee for the Supreme Court. I look forward to hearing from Judge Gorsuch, and I would encourage my colleagues to carefully consider the nominee on the merits and nothing else.