U.S. Senate Confirms Neil Gorsuch

On April 7, 2017, the United States Senate voted to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court by a vote of 54-45. Judge Gorsuch will be sworn in as the 113th Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on Monday, April 10, 2017.

Judge Gorsuch faced strident opposition from the Democratic minority in the Senate. In order to secure a final vote on Judge Gorsuch's nomination, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called for a vote to change the Senate rules requiring 60 votes to end debate on a Supreme Court nomination. After the rule change was passed on a 52-48 party-line vote, the path was cleared for the final confirmation vote. For reasons that I discussed in detail, Judge Gorsuch was an excellent pick by President Donald Trump, and promises to serve with distinction on the Supreme Court for years to come.

I will publish a post with more detailed thoughts on the new Supreme Court Justice shortly. In the meantime, please see our selection of articles about Judge Gorsuch's background and some of his interesting immigration-related decisions from his tenure on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Overview of SCOUTS Nominee Neil Gorsuch's Background and Record [see article];
Judge Gorsuch Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee on Chevron Deference [see article];
President Trump Nominates Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court [see article];
Potential Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch on Chevron Deference [see article];
De Niz Robles v. Lynch (10th Cir.): Matter of Briones Does Not Apply Retroactively [see article]; and
Montano-Vega v. Holder, 721 F.3d 1175 (10th Cir. 2013) — Gorsuch Opinion Rejecting 8 C.F.R. 1003.4 Challenge [see article].