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| Supreme Court nominee: Senators clash at Neil Gorsuch hearing | Supreme Court nominee: Senators clash at Neil Gorsuch hearing |
| (2 days later) | |
| Senators have clashed fiercely at the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. | Senators have clashed fiercely at the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. |
| The seat was vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia 13 months ago. | The seat was vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia 13 months ago. |
| There were angry exchanges among Democrats and Republicans over why Barack Obama's choice for the post had not been given a hearing last year. | There were angry exchanges among Democrats and Republicans over why Barack Obama's choice for the post had not been given a hearing last year. |
| Mr Gorsuch is yet to be questioned, but in a short address strongly backed an independent judiciary and said that judges cannot by lawmakers. | Mr Gorsuch is yet to be questioned, but in a short address strongly backed an independent judiciary and said that judges cannot by lawmakers. |
| He largely took a back seat on the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He faces a tough grilling on Tuesday and Wednesday. | He largely took a back seat on the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He faces a tough grilling on Tuesday and Wednesday. |
| Before he spoke, Democrats lined up to berate Republicans for blocking Mr Obama's nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as Justice Scalia's replacement. | Before he spoke, Democrats lined up to berate Republicans for blocking Mr Obama's nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as Justice Scalia's replacement. |
| Ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein said she was "deeply disappointed that it is under these circumstances that we begin this hearing". | Ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein said she was "deeply disappointed that it is under these circumstances that we begin this hearing". |
| Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told Mr Gorsuch: "Your nomination is part of a Republican strategy to capture our judicial branch of government." | |
| Fellow Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said he feared Mr Gorsuch's appointment could lead to another "Republican 5-4 special interest spree". | Fellow Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said he feared Mr Gorsuch's appointment could lead to another "Republican 5-4 special interest spree". |
| 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. |
| But Senate Republicans pointed to a quote by then Judiciary Committee chairman, the Democrat Joe Biden, in 1992 saying then President George HW Bush should not name a nominee to any Supreme Court post until after the upcoming election. | But Senate Republicans pointed to a quote by then Judiciary Committee chairman, the Democrat Joe Biden, in 1992 saying then President George HW Bush should not name a nominee to any Supreme Court post until after the upcoming election. |
| Senator Lindsey Graham said if the Democrats had been in the same position last year they would have acted the same way. | Senator Lindsey Graham said if the Democrats had been in the same position last year they would have acted the same way. |
| "I don't think any injustice has been done," he said. | "I don't think any injustice has been done," he said. |
| Republican Ted Cruz said "Justice Scalia's legacy would have been in grave danger" if Mr Obama's choice had been allowed. | Republican Ted Cruz said "Justice Scalia's legacy would have been in grave danger" if Mr Obama's choice had been allowed. |
| How does the process work? | How does the process work? |
| "We would have seen the democratic process controlled by five unelected lawyers in Washington DC," he said. | "We would have seen the democratic process controlled by five unelected lawyers in Washington DC," he said. |
| In delaying the choice until after the election, "the American people played a very direct role in choosing this nominee", he said. | In delaying the choice until after the election, "the American people played a very direct role in choosing this nominee", he said. |
| As far as Mr Gorsuch's qualification for the post was concerned, senators did not dispute his achievements. | As far as Mr Gorsuch's qualification for the post was concerned, senators did not dispute his achievements. |
| Committee chairman, Republican Chuck 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". | Committee chairman, Republican Chuck 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". |
| Mr Graham, although pointing out his well-known opposition to Donald Trump's election campaign, said the president should be praised for picking the "best choice available". | Mr Graham, although pointing out his well-known opposition to Donald Trump's election campaign, said the president should be praised for picking the "best choice available". |
| When he came to speak, Mr Gorsuch championed neutral judges and an independent judiciary, saying: "Each generation must carry the baton or watch it fall." | When he came to speak, Mr Gorsuch championed neutral judges and an independent judiciary, saying: "Each generation must carry the baton or watch it fall." |
| He said: "If judges were just secret legislators, declaring not what the law is but what they would like it to be, the very idea of a government by the people and for the people would be at risk." | He said: "If judges were just secret legislators, declaring not what the law is but what they would like it to be, the very idea of a government by the people and for the people would be at risk." |
| He added: "These days we sometimes hear judges cynically described as politicians in robes, seeking to enforce their own politics rather than striving to apply the law impartially. If I thought that were true I'd hang up the robe." | He added: "These days we sometimes hear judges cynically described as politicians in robes, seeking to enforce their own politics rather than striving to apply the law impartially. If I thought that were true I'd hang up the robe." |
| Some Democrats hinted at the issues that would form part of his grilling over the next two days: | Some Democrats hinted at the issues that would form part of his grilling over the next two days: |
| It is unclear whether Democrats will try to block Mr Gorsuch's confirmation. | It is unclear whether Democrats will try to block Mr Gorsuch's confirmation. |
| If they do, their options are limited. | If they do, their 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. |
| They hope to have Judge Gorsuch, currently a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals, confirmed before Congress leaves for recess on 7 April. | They hope to have Judge Gorsuch, currently a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals, confirmed before Congress leaves for recess on 7 April. |