Religion in the courtroom: Neil Gorsuchs faith and writings draw close attention
Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee said to value federal laws that give a wide berth to religion
February 10, 2017 at 4:03 pm
By MARK K. MATTHEWS
He defended the rights of a man, convicted of killing his young daughter, to worship in a prison sweat lodge. He wrote that “human life is fundamentally and inherently valuable” in the context of assisted suicide. And he argued a company’s owners are allowed to deny health care coverage for birth control that violates their faith.
More than most issues, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch’s writings on the intersection of religion and the law have faced intense scrutiny before his expected confirmation hearings. So too have his personal beliefs as a Catholic turned Episcopalian and conservative who worships at a self-described “largely liberal” church in Boulder.
The focus is more than just a philosophical interest. With the court split between liberals and conservatives, his approach — and future votes — could impact cases dealing with religious liberty, transgender discrimination and reproductive rights.
Eugene Volokh, a University of California, Los Angeles law professor with a background in church-state relations, said Gorsuch’s judicial record shows he values federal laws that give a wide berth to religion. What Gorsuch “is saying is that Congress has told us that religious exemptions ought to be granted where feasible,” Volokh said.
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/02/10/neil-gorsuch-religion/
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