Legal News
Reports on lawmaking, constitutional issues, and court cases. The Daily Signal combines news reporting with conservative commentary and legal analysis.
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- News
Gorsuch Joins the Supreme Court With Nod to Scalia
Neil M. Gorsuch joined the Supreme Court on Monday morning as Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, for whom Gorsuch once clerked, administered the judicial oath of office in a formal Rose Garden ceremony. The White House event shortly after 11 a.m. followed a private swearing-in two hours earlier at the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice John…Caleb Ecarma -
- News
4 Lessons Conservatives Should Learn From Getting Gorsuch Through
Leaders of organizations that worked to help win Senate confirmation for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, say conservatives can learn valuable lessons from the process. “I think first of all you start with an incredibly talented, well-qualified candidate like Gorsuch and that makes the whole job easier,” Carrie Severino, chief counsel…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Neil Gorsuch to Fill Supreme Court Vacancy at Critical Time for the Nation
After four days of scrutinizing hearings and nearly a week of vociferous debate, the U.S. Senate has voted 54-45 to confirm Neil Gorsuch as an associate Supreme Court justice. Gorsuch’s sterling credentials and demonstrated fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law should give all Americans confidence that he will be a fair and…Tiffany Bates -
- News
Senate Confirms Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court
The Senate voted 54-45 on Friday to confirm Judge Neil M. Gorsuch as the 113th person to serve on the Supreme Court. Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge who was nominated Jan. 31 by President Donald Trump, will be sworn into office in two ceremonies Monday, the White House said. “As a deep believer in the…Caleb Ecarma -
- News
Facing Democrat Filibuster on Gorsuch, McConnell Invokes Nuclear Option
Four years after Senate Democrats deployed the so-called nuclear option, Senate Republicans triggered it Thursday by a party-line vote of 52-48 to move President Donald Trump’s nominee closer to joining the Supreme Court. The successful bid by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to invoke the nuclear option means waiver of the 60-vote threshold to end debate on…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
All Sitting Supreme Court Justices Have Been Involved With Federalist Society, Labeled a ‘Front’ Group by Democrats
Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court choice, came under fire from Democrats Monday because of his involvement with the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization. “I don’t know what Donald Trump’s judicial philosophy [is] as president, but we sure do know the judicial philosophy of the Federalist Society, which was given the responsibility…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
The 2 Cases That Prove Neil Gorsuch Is Right for the Supreme Court
As modern Supreme Court nomination hearings go, Judge Neil Gorsuch’s were surprisingly uneventful. One of his judicial decisions that drew fire is Hobby Lobby v. Burwell. That case determined whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act should prevent the federal government from imposing the Affordable Care Act’s regulatory contraceptives mandate on a particular family-owned business contrary…Hannah C. Smith -
- News
After Clearing Committee Vote, Here’s What’s Next for Gorsuch
In a vote along party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 to pass Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick, out of committee. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Gorsuch’s nomination will now move to the Senate. Chairman @ChuckGrassley: The nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be Associate Justice of #SCOTUS is…Rachel del Guidice -
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8 Cases Show How Gorsuch Might Rule on Freedom of the Press
President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee has an extensive record ruling on free press and First Amendment issues. He has sided with the media in libel cases, against government searches of reporter notes and computers, and generally placed a high bar for suing news organizations over privacy rights. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
7 Facts Democrats Should Consider Before They Oppose Neil Gorsuch
As Democrats prepare to attempt a historically unprecedented filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch, it’s important to be able to separate fact from fiction as debunked talking points are repeated by those who oppose the nominee. Here are seven key facts to remember: There has never been a successful partisan filibuster of a Supreme…Sen. Chuck Grassley -
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Why These GOP Senators Aren’t Concerned About Democrats’ Threat to Filibuster Gorsuch
Despite the looming threat of a Democratic filibuster, a group of key Republican lawmakers from the Senate Judiciary Committee displayed confidence that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch will be confirmed during a press conference in the District of Columbia. “The Democrats will not succeed in filibustering [Gorsuch],” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said. “Judge Gorsuch should…Caleb Ecarma -
- Opinion
What a Lesser-Known Opinion Reveals About Neil Gorsuch
Much has been made about Judge Neil Gorsuch’s impeccable academic pedigree, judicial record of impartiality, and support of his colleagues from across the ideological spectrum—and for good reason. Gorsuch has authored approximately 800 judicial opinions since joining the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and several of those decisions were crucial to upholding the constitutional…David Rosenthal -
- Opinion
Neil Gorsuch: An Independent Judge the Court Needs
Everyone knows that Supreme Court confirmation hearings can be a dramatic, even emotional, events. The stakes are high. As a senator, there are few responsibilities more important than deciding whether to vote for a nominee to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, these days, it seems like being nominated to the Supreme Court is a lot like…Sen. Mike Lee -
- News
Senate Democrats Stall Committee Vote for Neil Gorsuch
Democrats have successfully succeeded in delaying the committee vote for Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick. The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to have a committee vote for Gorsuch on March 27, with a full Senate vote on April 3. Now, the full Senate vote will not take place until April 5. “Like…Rachel del Guidice -
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Legal Experts Say Hearings Show Gorsuch Will Be ‘Excellent’ Justice, Predict Confirmation
Legal experts say the confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court choice, exhibited the nominee’s worthiness to serve on the highest court in the land. “Judge Gorsuch showed why he will make an excellent Supreme Court justice,” Elizabeth Slattery, a legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal in…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
How Neil Gorsuch Outshines Senate Democrats on Day 3
By the end of the third day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, it was clear that little fight was left in the Democratic senators on the Judiciary Committee. Following a contentious day of questioning on Tuesday, Democrats seemed resigned to Gorsuch’s confirmation on Wednesday as it became clear that they were…Curt Levey -
- News
Top Senate Democrat Says ‘No’ on Gorsuch, Indicates Party May Filibuster
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he will vote against Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch and asked his Democrat colleagues to filibuster during a speech on the Senate floor Thursday. “I am voting no on Gorsuch for workers across the country … and for others who do not want to choose between their…Rachel del Guidice -
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4 Takeaways From Neil Gorsuch’s Second Day of Questioning
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch addressed physician-assisted suicide, conservatism, and the Constitution in a second and final day of questioning in his Senate confirmation hearings. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear witnesses testifying for and against the federal appeals court judge before scheduling a confirmation vote for President Donald Trump’s nominee….Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Gorsuch Promises Faithfulness to Constitution as Supreme Court Justice
President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, promised that he would remain faithful to the Constitution in his second day of questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked Gorsuch if he would honor precedent and remain faithful to the Constitution if confirmed as an associate justice of the…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Gorsuch Addresses Physician-Assisted Suicide in Emotional Exchange
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch responded to questions about end-of-life issues Wednesday during his second day of questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., questioned Gorsuch on his views on physician-assisted suicide. “You make the statement that there is no justification for having anything to do with the end of someone’s life,…Rachel del Guidice