U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement following President Trump’s nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:
“Tonight, President Trump exercised one of the most significant responsibilities given to him by Article II of the United States Constitution. Judge Gorsuch is the right choice to fill the chair vacated by conservative stalwart, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia possessed the ideal qualities of a Supreme Court Justice - he understood the proper role of the courts, he was a fierce defender of the Constitution, and was a man of uncompromising principle. I applaud the President’s decision because Judge Gorsuch, like Justice Scalia, interprets the Constitution from the perspective of the Founding Fathers, and not on a case-by-case basis to serve political needs. Judge Gorsuch demonstrated his conservatism by upholding religious liberty in his decision on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, a 2014 victory in which it was decided that the federal government could not force businesses to offer coverage for prescription drugs related to abortion services. Neil Gorsuch will uphold the foundation of our government based on separation of powers and will honor the understanding that the role of government is defined by the people of this great nation, not the other way around. Not only do I support this pick, but for the security and liberty of Missourians, I call on Minority Leader Schumer to quit the partisan games and immediately confirm President Trump’s Cabinet and Supreme Court nominations.”
