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| Trump picks Neil Gorsuch as nominee for Supreme Court | Trump picks Neil Gorsuch as nominee for Supreme Court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for the US Supreme Court. | President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for the US Supreme Court. |
| If confirmed by the Senate, the 49-year-old would replace the vacancy left on the court by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. | If confirmed by the Senate, the 49-year-old would replace the vacancy left on the court by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. |
| The upper chamber's Democratic leader has already said he has "very serious doubts" about the nominee. | The upper chamber's Democratic leader has already said he has "very serious doubts" about the nominee. |
| The court has the last legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues, from abortion to gender to gun control. | 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. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Protests against Mr Trump's choice were held outside the Supreme Court following the announcement. | Protests against Mr Trump's choice were held outside the Supreme Court following the announcement. |
| In accepting the nomination, Judge Gorsuch said: "I am honoured and I am humbled." | In accepting the nomination, Judge Gorsuch said: "I am honoured and I am humbled." |
| He was picked out of a shortlist of 21 possible choices that Mr Trump made public during the election 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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 is an "originalist", meaning he believes the US Constitution should be followed as the Founding Fathers intended. | He is an "originalist", meaning he believes the US Constitution should be followed as the Founding Fathers intended. |
| However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested Judge Gorsuch might be outside the legal mainstream. | However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested Judge Gorsuch might be outside the legal mainstream. |
| "Given his record, I have very serious doubts about Judge Gorsuch's ability to meet this standard," Senator Schumer added. | "Given his record, I have very serious doubts about Judge Gorsuch's ability to meet this standard," Senator Schumer added. |
| But Vice-President Mike Pence tweeted the nominee was "one of the most mainstream, respected, and exceptionally qualified Supreme Court nominees in American history". | 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? |
| Judge Gorsuch's 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. | Former President Barack Obama had put forward Judge Merrick Garland after Justice Scalia's death last February. |
| But Republicans refused to debate the choice, saying it was too close to an election, which left Democrats embittered. | But Republicans refused to debate the choice, saying it was too close to an election, which left Democrats embittered. |
| 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. | 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 prolonging or filibustering the debate. In that case, the nomination would need 60 votes rather than a simple majority. | |
| 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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |