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Trump Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch faces Senate hearing Trump Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch faces Senate hearing
(35 minutes later)
The Senate confirmation hearing of President Donald Trump's nominee for the US Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, is now under way.The Senate confirmation hearing of President Donald Trump's nominee for the US Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, is now under way.
Democrats are sure to question whether Mr Gorsuch, a respected conservative judge on a Colorado appeals court, will maintain independence from Mr Trump. If approved, the Colorado appeals court judge would fill a vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia 13 months ago.
He would fill a vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia's death 13 months ago. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee immediately highlighted gun control and abortion as key issues.
Democrats are still angry at Republicans for refusing to consider Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee. The Democrats also repeated anger at Republicans for refusing to consider Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.
But it is unclear whether they will try to block Mr Gorsuch's confirmation.But it is unclear whether they will try to block Mr Gorsuch's confirmation.
The nominee will make an opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday to kick off hearings that could span four days. The hearing began with addresses from the chairman, Republican Chuck Grassley, and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein.
Mr Grassley hailed Mr Gorsuch's "exceptional record", saying he had shown unfailing commitment to "the preservation of our constitutional order and the separation of powers".
But Ms Feinstein began by citing the Republicans' block on Mr Obama's nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to replace Judge Scalia.
She said she was "deeply disappointed that it is under these circumstances that we begin this hearing".
The nominee will later make his opening statement before the committee, in a hearing that could span four days.
If Mr Gorsuch, 49, is approved by the Senate he would restore a 5-4 conservative majority on America's highest court.If Mr Gorsuch, 49, is approved by the Senate he would restore a 5-4 conservative majority on America's highest court.
As a lifetime appointee, he would be one of nine justices who have the final legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues, from abortion to gender to gun control to workers' rights.As a lifetime appointee, he would be one of nine justices who have the final legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues, from abortion to gender to gun control to workers' rights.
Democrats are expected to focus on what they say are Mr Gorsuch's previous rulings in favour of business interests.
How does the process work?How does the process work?
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said last week: "Judge Gorsuch may act like a neutral, calm judge but his record and his career clearly show he harbours a right-wing, pro-corporate special interest legal agenda."
The nominee is also likely to be quizzed on whether he is sufficiently independent from President Trump, who has lambasted judges for ruling against his bid to restrict travel from certain Muslim-majority nations.The nominee is also likely to be quizzed on whether he is sufficiently independent from President Trump, who has lambasted judges for ruling against his bid to restrict travel from certain Muslim-majority nations.
Mr Gorsuch, a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals, will also be pressed on his role as a Department of Justice lawyer under former President George W Bush from 2005-06.Mr Gorsuch, a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals, will also be pressed on his role as a Department of Justice lawyer under former President George W Bush from 2005-06.
During that period Mr Gorsuch helped defend the administration's expansive use of aggressive interrogation techniques.During that period Mr Gorsuch helped defend the administration's expansive use of aggressive interrogation techniques.
His authorship of a 2006 book in which he argued against the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia will also probably come under the microscope.His authorship of a 2006 book in which he argued against the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia will also probably come under the microscope.
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Democrats' liberal supporters are demanding they do everything within their power to stop Mr Gorsuch. The Democrats' options on opposing Mr Gorsuch are limited.
Memories are still raw of Republicans' refusal to even consider former Democratic President Obama's choice to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
But Democratic options are limited.
Republicans control the Senate and they can change the chamber's rules to make it easier to confirm Mr Gorsuch if any attempt is made to block him.Republicans control the Senate and they can change the chamber's rules to make it easier to confirm Mr Gorsuch if any attempt is made to block him.
Questioning of the nominee will begin on Tuesday, and a full Senate vote is expected early next month. A full Senate vote is expected on 3 April.