Congressman Elijay Cummings (Md.) Statement on Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 1, 2017

Contact: Fabion Seaton (202) 225-4741
Cummings Statement on Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 1, 2017)—Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:

“Last year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans refused to perform their constitutional duty to advise and consent on President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Merrick Garland. President Trump had an opportunity to unite our nation around a consensus pick like Judge Garland. Instead, he has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch, whose record on the bench puts him outside the legal mainstream.

“Now more than ever, our nation needs an independent Supreme Court that will defend the Constitution—not protect the interest of corporations and the powerful.

“Judge Gorsuch has consistently sided with corporate interests over working families, and he has spoken publicly and often about his contempt for ‘the Left’ and ‘liberals.’ I am not confident that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would defend marginalized communities’ right to equal protection. This gives me grave concerns. We cannot allow this to become the new normal.

“Before any vote is held on his confirmation, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to examine Judge Gorsuch’s record extremely carefully to ensure that he will defend the Constitution and working families. The American people deserve nothing less.”