"President Trump's nominee could not meet the basic 60-vote standard to which we have held every Supreme Court nominee of either party for the past quarter century".
The Republican-led Senate today confirmed Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee over stout Democratic opposition, restoring a conservative majority on the highest US judicial body.
The confirmation boosted President Donald Trump's flailing presidency, which has been mired in controversy over potential connections to the Russian government.
The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of numerous most sensitive issues of American life and law.
They approved a rule change dubbed the "nuclear option" to allow Gorsuch's confirmation by Friday. He received unanimous support from the Republican caucus, though U.S. Sen. All three members face tough re-election bids in 2018.
Obama nominated him in March 2016, a month after Scalia's death.
"Mitch did what he thought was the right thing at the time, and I think the American people agreed with it, as was evidenced by the outcome of the election", said Sen.
Lingering resentment over the Garland blockade influenced the Democratic approach to Gorsuch's confirmation process.
"As a deep believer in the rule of law, Judge Gorsuch will serve the American people with distinction".
He did acknowledge, though, that an email he sent criticizing lawyers at big firms for representing detainees being held by the USA military at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was "not my finest hour". Patrick Leahy expressed alarm over Gorsuch's judicial philosophy, pressing the judge over whether he would make similar decisions to Scalia.
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Monk, who scored 47 points in the first matchup of the season against UNC , was held to just 12 points on 4-10 shooting. Someone said, well, what happened? There were five lead changes, five ties and neither team ever led by double digits.
Denver native Neil Gorsuch has served on the federal appeals court's 10th Judicial Circuit in Denver since the fall of 2006.
"Senator, I don't speak for Justice Scalia, I speak for myself", Gorsuch replied.
"In fact, under a certain scenario, there could even be more than that", Trump said. "Yes", Leahy said. "It's obvious that his preparation has worked out well".
McConnell vowed that the rules change would block the Gorsuch filibuster, and all future ones, a change many lawmakers lamented could lead to an even more polarized Senate, court and country. Schumer accused the judge of being evasive in his testimony.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, spoke for many in her party when, nearing the end of two days of testimony, she told Gorsuch: "It remains to be seen whether you will be a justice for all or a justice for some". The connection, Schumer contended, was evidence of Gorsuch's "deep-seated conservative ideology".
These partisan tensions exploded on the Senate floor this week, as Democrats mounted a filibuster against Gorsuch, prompting Republicans to use what's known as the "nuclear option" Thursday to force a final vote.
Trump's selection drew pushback from Democrats, who criticized Senate Republicans for refusing to consider Merrick Garland, former President Barack Obama's pick to fill the open spot on the high bench.
The rule change could make it easier for Trump to win confirmation of Supreme Court nominees as long as Republicans control the Senate, with Democrats left powerless to resist even if he gets a chance to replace the court's senior liberal, 84-year-old Ginsburg, or the court's swing vote, 80-year-old Kennedy, with more conservative replacements. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., supported the filibuster of Gorsuch. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "We now have a radical right-wing justice on the Supreme Court".
"I am sick with regret", said Democratic Chris Coons of Delaware. How despicable, Republicans said, that the Democrats care so little about Senate tradition. Manchin declared that Republicans will "rue the day that this happened" if they lose their majority. Senate members are expected to cast their final votes for Gorsuch Friday, April 7, according to NBC News. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath to Gorsuch, and hear his first oral arguments at the court a week from Monday.
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