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Press Releases

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) took to the Senate floor to voice his support for Judge Neil Gorsuch and offer some strong words for Senate Democrats who continue to threaten to filibuster his nomination to serve on the Supreme Court.

Watch Senator Boozman discuss the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch

Boozman on Judge Gorsuch’s qualifications:

“Judge Neil Gorsuch is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. His judicial demeanor, professional competence and integrity all exceed what you expect in a nominee for the highest court in the land. Judge Gorsuch checks every box.”

Boozman on the Senate Democrats filibuster threat:

“Senate Democrats have a filibuster that lacks a reason. The Minority Leader has suggested the Senate abandon Judge Gorsuch’s nomination and ask the president to submit a new nominee. Here’s the truth, if this nominee cannot get the Senate Democrats’ blessing for a vote, then no nominee put forth by the president can. Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed to the Supreme Court this week. It is unfortunate that we may have break longstanding precedent to do so, but Senate Democrats actions are to blame for that.”

The following are Senator Boozman’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

The Senate is at a crossroads. Senate Democrats, at the behest of outside, far-left activist groups, is leading the charge to break a nearly 230-year old precedent of confirming Supreme Court nominees by a simple majority vote.

Why? Well, when you go down the list, there is only one reason. That reason is not based in substance or reality. It is purely partisan.

Judge Gorsuch is eminently qualified. That does not seem to be in dispute.

His credentials are exceptional.

His resume is impressive.

His judicial demeanor, professional competence and integrity all exceed what you expect in a nominee for the highest court in the land.

Judge Gorsuch checks every box.

So much so, that the American Bar Association gave Judge Gorsuch its highest rating.

The ABA’s assessment, mind you, has been what the Minority Leader has referred to as the “Gold Standard” when it comes to evaluating a nominee’s fitness to serve on the court.

Senate Democrats must be concerned about Judge Gorsuch’s past then?

Again, that is not the case. No one was able to dig up anything remotely resembling a scandal in Judge Gorsuch’s past during this process. You can’t manufacture a controversy where none exists.

Nothing about Judge Gorsuch has come to light during this confirmation process that could conceivably merit blocking a vote on the nominee.

I’ve heard Senate Democrats try to argue that Judge Gorsuch is “out of the mainstream.” That hasn’t stuck either.

This is a judge that has been with the majority of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 99 percent of the time. 97 percent of his decisions were unanimous.

Judge Gorsuch is about as mainstream as you are going to find.

Editorial boards from newspapers across the country, including USA Today, have written in support of his nomination.

Does anyone honestly believe that USA Today, which is far from a conservative paper, would support confirming Judge Gorsuch for the Supreme Court if he was “out of the mainstream?” 

So now, Senate Democrats are seemingly creating new standards out of thin air to justify this blatantly partisan act. According to their talking points, a nominee is now expected tell the Senate and the American people exactly how he or she would rule on matters that may come before the court—especially in instances where the activist base has a very keen interest.

As the Judiciary Chairman rightly pointed out, the standard set by Justice Ginsburg in her confirmation hearings—that it would be inappropriate for a nominee to offer hints or make commitments on matters that may come before the Court—has been adhered to ever since.

This leaves Senate Democrats with a filibuster that lacks a reason.

The Minority Leader has suggested the Senate abandon Judge Gorsuch’s nomination if cloture is not agreed to and ask the president to submit a new nominee.

This demand rings hollow.

Here’s the truth. If this nominee cannot get the Senate Democrats’ blessing for a vote, then no nominee put forth by the president can.

Again, we are talking about a nominee who has climbed to the top rung of his profession.

Judge Gorsuch is well qualified and well within the mainstream. He was unanimously confirmed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and, as I mentioned earlier, received the highest possible rating, after an exhaustive evaluation, from the American Bar Association.

Senate Democrats failed to create outrage and controversy over Judge Gorsuch’s nomination because there is none to be found.

But don’t let that stop them.

It’s an amazing one-eighty turn-about. Senate Democrats—who just last year pushed for an immediate vote at the height of a contentious presidential election—now appear to be fine with leaving that seat vacant for years.

Just last year, the Minority Leader sounded the alarm about the “judicial chaos” a “deadlocked court” could lead to. He appears to be no longer concerned about that.

By this logic, a vacant seat on the Supreme Court for a few months would be devastating blow for democracy, but one left open for years is wholly acceptable.

This makes absolutely no sense. The only explanation for it is that Senate Democrats expected to be voting on a nominee put forth by a Democrat administration, not one put forth by President Trump.

Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed to the Supreme Court this week. It is unfortunate that we may have break longstanding precedent to do so, but Senate Democrats actions are to blame for that.