Trump's blasts at judge raise questions for Gorsuch on independence
By Robert Barnes February 5 at 4:11 PM
President Trumps Twitter assault on the so-called judge who put a nationwide hold on the presidents executive order on immigration has motivated Democrats to challenge Trumps choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, on an important but elusive issue. Is Gorsuch independent enough, they ask, to stand up to the president who picked him?
As the legal battle over Trumps immigration directive shows, Gorsuchs nomination lands at a time when the Supreme Court is likely to be called upon to review what Trump already has shown to be a broad reliance on executive power.
It is difficult for appeals court judges such as Gorsuch to point to past decisions to demonstrate independence, and few are called upon to make definitive rulings on a presidents powers.
Those who have studied Gorsuchs record say he has shown a skepticism about government power but warn against weaving a philosophy from a series of unrelated votes.
It is already clear that Trumps broadsides against U.S. District Judge James L. Robart, who put the presidents immigration order on hold, have placed Gorsuch in a difficult position. Democrats have been quick to exploit it.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/trumps-blasts-at-judge-raise-questions-for-gorsuch-on-independence/2017/02/05/1642212c-ebc2-11e6-b4ff-ac2cf509efe5_story.html?utm_term=.f44d29d7384a&wpisrc=nl_evening&wpmm=1