CHN: SCOTUS Confirmation Hearing to Begin March 20

The confirmation hearing on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court is slated to begin on March 20 in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Several CHN members, including the National Women’s Law CenterNational Council of Jewish Women and the Center for American Progress, released statements opposing his nomination. The National Women’s Law Center noted in its statement that, “Gorsuch’s judicial record and the tainted process by which he was selected, demonstrate that, if he is confirmed to the highest court in the land, our shared constitutional values will be at risk, to the detriment of us all – and most especially women.” SCOTUSblog has compiled a partial list of statements in support of and in opposition to Judge Gorsuch.

A confirmation to the Supreme Court requires 60 votes in the Senate, but President Trump encouraged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to “go nuclear” and change the filibuster rules if necessary so that only a simple majority would be needed. Advocates have been strong in their position that if Gorsuch doesn’t have the 60 votes required for confirmation, Republicans should change the nominee, not the rules. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he believes the Senate will confirm Gorsuch before its two-week Easter recess begins on April 8.