Justice Neil Gorsuch

            Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on Friday, April 7, 2016, to be the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court. The vote was 54-45 and was mostly along party lines. He was sworn in as an Associate Justice in a private ceremony in the justices’ conference room by Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday, April 10, 2016. All of the justices were in attendance as well as Louise Gorsuch, the couple’s two daughters, the widow and son of the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

            A public swearing in ceremony was held two hours later at the White House. President Donald Trump introduced Justice Gorsuch to the crowd in the Rose Garden, and Justice Anthony Kennedy administered the oath of office. Justice Kennedy is the longing-serving justice currently on the Court, and Justice Gorsuch served as a clerk to him nearly 25 years ago. Justice Gorsuch brings the number of justices currently on the Court to the full strength of nine. He is also the 113^th justice in the history of the Supreme Court.

            According to The Daily Signal, several organizations help Justice Gorsuch to win confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Rachel del Guidice shares four lessons emphasized by leaders of those organizations that conservatives can learn from the experience. The lessons are:

(1) Start with a “good nominee.” “Nominate individuals to the court who are one, extraordinarily well-qualified … [and] have a serious, demonstrated commitment to originalism and textualism.

(2) Be transparent in the choice. Before the presidential election Donald Trump met with conservative legal experts about potential nominees for the Supreme Court and released two lists of possible candidates. This was a good decision that may have won him the election.

(3) Conservatives “united forces and worked together” to get Judge Gorsuch confirmed. This unity helped to “knock down liberals’ allegations against Gorsuch.”

(4) “Conservative supporters spent millions of dollars on TV ads and other ways to boost Gorsuch.” Since the courts are now politicized, the process of confirming judges and justices “will begin to look more like a political campaign.” These ads helped to “educate the public” about the nominee and the importance of his confirmation.

            Justice Gorsuch is a relatively young man at 49 years of age. There is a very real possibility that his conservative influence could be felt from the bench for 35 years or more. President Trump made a good choice when he nominated Judge Gorsuch to become the next Justice.  Hopefully, he will have the opportunity to nominate more judges like Justice Gorsuch and have the Senate confirm them.