Democrats Raise the Specter of Merrick Garland as Opening Statements Begin
Opening statements are underway, with each of the 20 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee offering up to 10 minutes of remarks. Republicans are setting the tone for a speedy approval of the conservative federal judge, while Democrats have raised the issue of Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee to the seat Gorsuch is seeking as well as previewed lines of questioning and areas of concern, including Roe v. Wade and independence from the controversial president who nominated him to the job.
“The Senate owes the president some deference with regard to Supreme Court nominees,” Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch said, despite the fact that Senate Republicans refused to give Garland a confirmation hearing after his nomination nearly a year ago.
Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, defended Republicans’ move to block Garland.
"Let the American people choose," Cornyn said.
Democrats disagreed with that view.
“I am deeply disappointed that it is under these circumstances that we begin these hearings,” California's Sen. Dianne Feinstein said in her opening remarks as the top Democrat on the committee.
Democrats repeatedly raised questions about past Gorsuch rulings, including Feinstein and Sen. Dick Durbin’s condemnation of his dissent in the case of truck driver Alphonse Maddin against his employer, TransAm Trucking Inc. The company fired him for leaving a tractor trailer behind to seek help after the vehicle became inoperable in subzero temperatures.
“According to his recollection, it was 14 degrees below. So cold,” Illinois' Durbin said, but “not as cold as your dissent, Judge Gorsuch.”