Senator Lankford Statement on Conclusion of Judge Gorsuch Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) made the following statement on the conclusion of Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee: 

“Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats have no reason to try to mount a filibuster against Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Judge Gorsuch has an impressive record of interpreting the law without trying to legislate from the bench. All eight sitting Supreme Court Justices, as well as the late Justice Antonin Scalia, received an up-or-down vote in the United States Senate. None of those Justices – whether nominated by President Obama, President George W. Bush, President Clinton, President George H.W. Bush or President Reagan – were successfully filibustered. Only one of the eight Justices – Justice Alito – was subjected to a cloture vote, but the motion was easily invoked by a vote of 72-25. Adherence to the rule of law, refusal to legislate from the bench, and dedication to the separation of powers are not extreme ideas. However, filibustering a Supreme Court nomination is.”

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