Associate justice of the United StatesSupreme Court. Few individuals over the last century have impacted the american legal discourse as profoundly as the late justice antonin scalia. In the wake of his untimely passing last february, justice goya left behind a legacy of faithfully applied a lot and upholding the principles of our constitution. Judge neil gorsuch is a worthy successor to judge antonin scalia. Judge gorsuch understands these protections granted in theights. Constitution, including the separation of power, federalism and the bill of rights. Ca he knows that the constitution provides americana with an investment will safeguard against government overreach. His past opinions demonstrate that he will honor constitutional protection afforded through due process. The right to bear arms. Equal protection under the law and religious freedom. Legal experts from across the political spectrum are very much in agreement with the gorsuch nomination. The american bar associations Standing Committee on the federal judiciary unanimously gave judge gorsuch the highest possible rating of wellqualified Supreme Court. I couldnt agree more. A lot of judge gorsuch associates, the chief judge of the 10th circuit who served have said about him, and i quote, judge gorsuch brings a powerful intellect combined with the probe in an approach to every issue. She brings to each case a strong commitment to permit his analysis to that case, its facts in the record and the law cited applicable. He does not use his judicial robe as a vehicle for anythingia other than deciding the case before him. End quote a president obamas former solicitor general, your cattle codependent oped in thi New York Times supported judge gorsuch in a row, and i quote, i have no doubt it can earn judge gorsuch with help research confidence in the rule of law. His six years on the bench reveal a committee to do judicial independence. They record that should give the American People confidence that he will not compromise principle to favor the president who appointed him, end quote. Those are the words of the solicitor general who argued president obamas arguments in front of the Supreme Court. Judge gorsuch has been throughs the confirmation process before as weve heard many times on the floor with senators, some in this body today approved his nomination to the court of appeals for the 10th circuit without opposition. Its clear to me as i was privileged to meet judge gorsuch several weeks ago and an examination of his record that judge gorsuch will decide cases fairly based on constitution and laws and isnt that the way it should be . This is what West Virginians would expect from a supremers court justice. Newspapers in my state have recognized this nominee is a strong qualification of his and respect for the rule of law. The boston daily mail editorialized and i quote, gorsuch has a strong legal credential that needs to be confirmed. Hes the kind of picking a president should make, democrat or republican because of its und proven qualities necessary or u justice. A strong understanding and respect for the nations founding document, the u. S. Constitution, end quote. The news register wrote, and i quote, during hearings last weer on the gorsuch readability was made abundantly clear. He is precisely the type of judge faithful to the issue constitution, not ideology on specific issues that this nation needs, end quote. And the march journals that, and i quote, gorsuch seems to believe it is in the plain language of the constitution to decide cases regardless of hisne own preferences. Thats someone who believes only the people, not the courts canfr change the constitution is exactly the type of Supreme Court justice we americans need, end quote. The American People benefited from an open and transparent Supreme Court process that led to judge gorsuch be nominated. During the 2016 president ial election, both candidates were transparent about the type of Supreme Court justice they would appoint. A President Trump released a list of 21 names, a list that included judge gorsuch and promised voters that he would fill the Supreme Court they canr be with someone from that list. The voters are paying attention. According to nbc news exit poll, 70 of voters said the selection of our justice is either the most important factor in their vote for president or an important factor. Let me state that again. 70 . The American People weighed in and President Trump acted wiselo at select and judge gorsuch. Even mainstream judges court wellqualified for the United StatesSupreme Court. Unfortunately, the democrat leader has indicated they intend to engage in an unprecedented partisan filibuster this nomination. They filibuster the nomination of this caliber would be a tremendous mistake i believe that could harm the senate as an institution. There has never been a Supreme Court nomination defeated by a partisan filibuster the type of Senate Democrats are telegraphing. It is one thing to vote against an for senator may wish, but it is quite another to filibuster an effort to block the nomination submitted by a duly elect a president that has the support of the majority of the senate. Senators have always enjoyed thi ability to filibuster nominations. That ability has remained available because senators had shown restraint in applying not power that comes along with requiring unlimited debate. The clear tradition of the senate and this is a body of tradition i have learned over the course of the 230 years of history is a confirmation by majority vote. That tradition has been demonstrated in recent supremert court confirmation. President obama nominated soniar sotomayor were and just explain to kagan. Neither face to filibuster in the senate. President george w. Bushr nominated john roberts as chief justice. There was no filibuster attempt against that nomination. President bill clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg and david prior to the Supreme Court. President george h. W. Bush nominated Justice Souter and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Either just a face to filibustes even though 48th in the voted against the thomas nomination. They did require a cloture vote when a group of democrat senators attended to block a vote on the confirmation of Justice Alitos nomination. Es 72 and back to invoke cloture,e, or preserving the bipartisan u. S. Of filibusters against Supreme Court nominee is. Among those who reject bid the alito filibuster in 2006 with the two democrat senators from my state, senator robert c. Byrd and senator jay rockefeller. 72 senators voted to invoketing cloture on Justice Alitos nomination, but only 58 ended up voting for the final confirmation. The senate has a very Clear History of rejecting the use of the filibuster proof court nominations. Theres no justification for aoh filibuster on the gorsuch nomination. Neil gorsuch is a mainstream judge with the highest possible rating from the american bar association. He was confirmed by the Senate Without an action in the year 2006. His service on the 10th Circuit Court of appeals has earned the respect of his judicial colleagues and we have demonstrated the independents and respect for the law that the American People expect from a Supreme Court justice. I hope that at least eight of mo democrat colleagues will join us regardless of how they ultimately vote on judge gorsuch nomination. For his confirmation, excuse me. I hope will recognize the needre to invoke cloture on this nomination. The senate will confirm judge gorsuch to the Supreme Court for the good of the nation and the good of the senate. There should be no filibuster of this wellqualified nominee. I yield back. Madam president , as ive done for the time he was nominated and will continue to do until hes confirmed, i rise to support the nomination of Neil I Gorsuch to serve on the supremet court. Judge gorsuch is an accomplishek mainstream jurist. I look forward to helping make sure he can receive the boat here in the senate or. In the weeks since hisni nomination has spoken at length about his qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court. Ive recognized him as a conservative champion of religious liberty, a defender of the separation