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Trump picks Neil Gorsuch as nominee for Supreme Court Trump picks Neil Gorsuch as nominee for Supreme Court
(35 minutes later)
President Donald Trump has unveiled Neil Gorsuch as his nominee for the US Supreme Court. President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for the US Supreme Court.
The 49-year-old is currently a federal appeals court judge sitting in Denver, Colorado. If confirmed, the 49-year-old would replace the vacancy left on the court by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
If confirmed, he would replace the vacancy left on the high court by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He will have to be confirmed by the Senate, but the chamber's Democratic leader said he had "very serious doubts" about the nominee.
The nomination will have to be confirmed by the Senate, where Democrats have threatened to block any candidate seen as too conservative. The court has the last legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues, from abortion to gender to gun control.
Mr Trump said Judge Gorsuch had a" superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to text".Mr Trump said Judge Gorsuch had a" superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to text".
"Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline, and has earned bipartisan support," Mr Trump added."Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline, and has earned bipartisan support," Mr Trump added.
The announcement was made in the East Room of the White House in a primetime address on Tuesday evening.The announcement was made in the East Room of the White House in a primetime address on Tuesday evening.
Protests against Mr Trump's choice were held outside the Supreme Court following the announcement.
In accepting the nomination, Judge Gorsuch called the late Justice Scalia, who died a year ago, a "lion of the law".In accepting the nomination, Judge Gorsuch called the late Justice Scalia, who died a year ago, a "lion of the law".
"Impartiality and independence, collegiality and courage" is what is expected of judges, Judge Gorsuch said. "Impartiality and independence, collegiality and courage" is what is expected of judges, he said.
"I am honoured and I am humbled," he added. "I am honoured and I am humbled," Judge Gorsuch added.
Judge Gorsuch was picked out of a shortlist of 21 possible choices that Mr Trump made public during the campaign. He was picked out of a shortlist of 21 possible choices that Mr Trump made public during the election campaign.
A conservative's dream - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America Reporter
Donald Trump's choice of Neil Gorsuch as his Supreme Court nominee is a fairly traditional pick in a decidedly untraditional time.
Judge Gorsuch has a CV and background that would make him a natural selection for just about any Republican president.
He's the kind of Supreme Court nominee evangelical and traditional conservative voters dreamed of as a reward for sticking with Mr Trump through the general election despite campaign missteps, controversies and occasional political apostasies.
They knew they would get a court pick they wouldn't like if Hillary Clinton won. They hoped they would get someone like Judge Gorsuch if Mr Trump prevailed.
Meanwhile, Democrats are left fuming over Senate Republicans' precedent-breaking decision to stymie Barack Obama's attempts to fill this court vacancy for nearly 10 months.
They have to decide if they will try to derail Mr Gorsuch's nomination as retribution - perhaps forcing Republicans to break with another Senate tradition, the ability of a minority to a block a Supreme Court nominee with only 41 votes through a filibuster.
The party's base, feeling a liberal majority on the court was stolen from them, will demand lockstep resistance, likely setting up a divisive confirmation fight ahead.
The Ivy-League educated jurist has the potential to restore the 5-4 conservative majority on the nine-seat high court.The Ivy-League educated jurist has the potential to restore the 5-4 conservative majority on the nine-seat high court.
The youngest Supreme Court pick in a quarter of a century, he is not expected to call into question high-profile rulings on abortion and gay marriage.The youngest Supreme Court pick in a quarter of a century, he is not expected to call into question high-profile rulings on abortion and gay marriage.
He has served on the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006. He is an "originalist", meaning he believes the US Constitution should be followed as the Founding Fathers intended.
Judge Gorsuch is favoured by many Republicans, who support his adherence to a strict interpretation of law, much like Scalia. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested Judge Gorsuch may be outside the legal mainstream.
He is an "originalist", meaning he believes that the US Constitution should be followed as the Founding Fathers intended. "Give his record, I have very serious doubts about Judge Gorsuch's ability to meet this standard," Senator Schumer added.
Judge Gorsuch once sided with groups that challenged the Obama administration's requirements for employers to provide health insurance that includes contraception. But Vice-President Mike Pence tweeted the nominee was "one of the most mainstream, respected, and exceptionally qualified Supreme Court nominees in American history".
Can Democrats block the nomination?Can Democrats block the nomination?
His nomination is expected to spark a political showdown in the Senate. Judge Gorsuch's nomination is expected to spark a political showdown in the Senate.
Former President Barack Obama had put forward Judge Merrick Garland after Justice Scalia's death last February, but Republicans refused to debate the choice because it was too close to an election, they said. Former President Barack Obama had put forward Judge Merrick Garland after Justice Scalia's death last February.
The failure to confirm Mr Obama's selection has left Democrats embittered, claiming that their nominee had been "stolen", and many have vowed to use similar tactics to block Mr Trump's pick. But Republicans refused to debate the choice, saying it was too close to an election, which left Democrats embittered.
Even if the nominee makes it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, he will still face challenges when the entire chamber convenes for a final vote. Even if Judge Gorsuch makes it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, he will still face challenges when the entire chamber convenes for a final vote.
Democrats may seek to prevent that second vote, by filibustering in order to deny Mr Trump the 60-vote threshold needed to bring the nomination to the floor.Democrats may seek to prevent that second vote, by filibustering in order to deny Mr Trump the 60-vote threshold needed to bring the nomination to the floor.
With Republicans only holding 52 Senate seats, they may have to change Senate rules in order to approve Mr Trump's nominee.With Republicans only holding 52 Senate seats, they may have to change Senate rules in order to approve Mr Trump's nominee.
Why is the choice so important?
The highest court in the US is often the ultimate arbiter on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions.
It hears fewer than 100 cases a year and the key announcements are made in June.
Each of the nine justices serves a lifetime appointment after being nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
The court already has cases this term on the rights of transgender students, gerrymandered voting districts and on the Texas death penalty determination.
It is also likely the court will hear cases on voter rights, abortion, racial bias in policing and US immigration policy, and possibly on Mr Trump's controversial executive order banning refugees.