Senator Stabenow Announces She Will Oppose Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Nomination to Supreme Court

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced that she will vote “no” on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.  She released the following statement laying out the reasons for her opposition:  

“The Senate has a Constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination through a fair and thorough confirmation process.  It is essential that the next Supreme Court Justice not only be qualified in the law but also balanced and impartial in his views.   

“After reviewing Judge Gorsuch's rulings, it is clear that he has a long record of siding with special interests and institutions instead of hard-working Americans.  And, therefore, in my judgment, he does not meet this standard of balance and impartiality.

“While serving on the 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Gorsuch ruled against Alphonse Maddin, a truck driver from Michigan who was fired for leaving his trailer on the side of the road after breaking down on a cold night and fearing he would freeze to death.  When Mr. Maddin sued, Judge Gorsuch disagreed with six other judges' rulings and reached the conclusion that Mr. Maddin should have risked his life to follow company orders even though Mr. Maddin protected his cargo from loss and completed his assignment.   

“Additionally, in 2008, Judge Gorsuch ruled against the parent of a severely autistic boy, Luke, who sought an education that would meet his special needs.  Yet during Judge Gorsuch's confirmation hearing, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that disabled students are entitled to more protections than Judge Gorsuch had found to be necessary for a quality education.  And in another important case, Judge Gorsuch ruled in favor of the rights of corporations over the rights of women to have access to health care.

“After carefully reviewing his record and listening to his testimony last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have concluded that supporting the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court is not in the best interests of the people of Michigan whom I am proud to represent.”