The Nomination of Neil Gorsuch: Termination or Emanation of American Values?

The presidential nominee for Justice of the Supreme Court was confirmed Friday, April 7, following the use of the republican “Trump” card that altered the percentage of votes needed by the senate to nominate a potential candidate. Neil Gorsuch, current judge of the Tenth Circuit

Court of Appeals, is regarded by conservatives as a heroic incarnation of what Republican ideology has to offer, and respected alike by his liberal counterparts for upholding moral values.

Nominated by President Donald Trump in January shortly after his inauguration, 49 year old Neil Gorsuch is a connoisseur in the field of judicial study, whose distinguished background as lawyer in a Washington law firm had earned him the position of Supreme Court Clerk before his endeavor into the Court of Appeals.

In spite of his integrous repute, there was a heated altercation in the Senate whether Gorsuch should be accredited for the position. The Democratic party, in repudiation, launched a filibuster in an attempt to withhold the 60 votes required by the Senate to select the next Supreme Court Justice

In response, the Republican wing committed to do the unthinkable–to lower the voting threshold from 60 to a mere majority–substantially elevating Gorsuch’s prospects of success.  

On Friday, the final consensus was reached by a 55 vote majority, granting Gorsuch the position of Supreme Court Justice and terminating the year long quarrel in the Senate.

The approval of Neil Gorsuch carries several implications due to the relatively controversial nature in which it achieved.

The modification of nomination rules does not abide with traditional checks and balances, as the Senate, in essence, is exerting influence on the ideological balance of the Supreme Court that would dictate the judicial branch. This in turn, may potentially allot greater leverage to the Republican section of Congress on the Supreme Court in passing bills into law. It is rather surprising that there was no counteraction on the part of the Supreme Court to suspend the adjustment, or even an investigation to evaluate whether the change is constitutional at all.

With the contention aside, Neil Gorsuch’s orientation towards certain laws are definite, whereas others are more ambiguous. However, possessing the conservative perspective, Gorsuch does align towards right wing ideologies, although only subtly so.

For Gorsuch, his perspective of  “common sense” may not be mutually agreeable to all. Instances of his past rulings include allowing a firm to dismiss a driver who abandoned his vehicle due to freezing temperatures, and sympathizing towards certain actions deemed “brutal” by law enforcement.

Is Gorsuch a flexible and sensible judge who understands and accepts the contemporary trends in American society?  Or will he be limited or stuck to his own conservatism?

The United States is a nation where individual freedom, checks and balance are respected, values which are preserved by an intricately structured government. It is due to this balance of power that the US has long enjoyed its prosperity since its independence. Time will tell whether Gorsuch’s nomination as Supreme Court Justice will contribute or be an obstacle to the cherished values of the US.