Gorsuch, 49, prevailed over the other finalist, Thomas Hardiman of Pennsylvania, also a federal appeals court judge, and Trump announced the nomination at a televised prime-time event at the White House. The bonhomie of the ceremony was in stark contrast to the reaction of Democrats, who are ready for a pitched battle over the future of the Supreme Court. A third person on the shortlist – U.S. Appeals Court Judge William Pryor Jr. of Alabama – saw his chances diminish as some Senate Republican leaders have said his confirmation would be difficult. Gorsuch would be the youngest Supreme Court justice since Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 1991. On the appeals court, Gorsuch has not been called upon to consider two hot-button social issues that may come before the Supreme Court: same-sex marriage and abortion.

Source: National Post February 01, 2017 01:20 UTC