(applause)
The President: Thank you.
Thank you very much.
(applause)
The President: Thank you.
Thank you very much, ladies and gentleman.
When Justice Scalia passed away suddenly last February,
I made a promise to the American people.
If I were elected president, I would find the very best
judge in the country for the Supreme Court.
I promised to select someone who respects our laws and is
representative of our Constitution and who loves
our Constitution, and someone who will interpret
them as written.
This may be the most transparent judicial
selection process in history.
Months ago, as a candidate, I publicly presented a list
of brilliant and accomplished people to the
American electorate, and pledged to make my choice
from among that list.
Millions of voters said this was the single most
important issue to them when they voted for me for President.
I am a man of my word.
I will do as I say, something that the American
people have been asking for from Washington for a very,
very long time.
Today --
(applause)
The President: -- thank you.
Today, I am keeping another promise to the American
people by nominating Judge Neil Gorsuch of the United
States Supreme Court to be of the United States Supreme
Court, and I would like to ask Judge Gorsuch and his
wonderful wife, Louise, to please step forward.
Please, Louise, Judge.
Here they come.
(applause)
The President: Here they come.
(applause)
The President: So was that a surprise?
Was it?
(applause)
The President: I have always felt that after the defense
of our nation, the most important decision a
President of the United States can make is the
appointment of a Supreme Court Justice.
Depending on their age, a Justice can be active for 50
years, and his or her decisions can last a century
or more and can often be permanent.
I took the task of this nomination very seriously.
I have selected an individual whose qualities
define -- really, and I mean, closely define -- what
we're looking for.
Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a
brilliant mind, tremendous discipline, and has earned
bipartisan support.
When he was nominated to the Tenth Circuit Court of
Appeals, he was confirmed by the Senate unanimously.
Also -- that's unanimous.
Can you believe that, nowadays with what's going on?
(applause) The President: Does that happen anymore?
Does it happen?
I think it's going to happen maybe again.
Also with us tonight is Maureen Scalia, a woman
loved by her husband and deeply respected by all.
I am so happy she is with us.
(applause)
The President: Where is Maureen?
Please stand up.
Thank you, Maureen.
(applause)
The President: Thank you, Maureen.
She is really the ultimate representative of the late
great Justice Antonin Scalia; whose image and
genius was in my mind throughout the
decision-making process.
Not only are we looking at the writings of the nominee
-- and I studied them closely, but he is said to
be among the finest and most brilliant, oftentimes, the
writings of any judge for a long, long time and his
academic credentials -- something very important to
me in that education has always been a priority --
are as good as I have ever seen.
He received his undergraduate degree from
Columbia with honors.
He then received his law degree from Harvard, also
with honors, where he was a Truman scholar.
After Harvard, he received his doctorate at Oxford,
where he attended as a Marshall Scholar -- one of
the top academic honors anywhere in the world.
After law school, he clerked on the Supreme Court for
both Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy.
It is an extraordinary résumé, as good as it gets.
Judge Gorsuch was born and raised in Colorado, and was
taught the value of independence, hard work, and
public service.
While in law school, he demonstrated a commitment to
helping the less fortunate.
He worked in both Harvard Prison Legal Assistance
Projects and Harvard Defenders Program.
Brilliance being assured, I studied every aspect
of his life.
He could have had any job at any law firm for any amount
of money, but what he wanted to do with his career was to
be a judge, to write decisions, and to make an
impact by upholding our laws and our Constitution.
The qualifications of Judge Gorsuch are beyond dispute.
He is the man of our country and a man who our country
really needs and needs badly to insure the rule of law
and the rule of justice.
I would like to thank Senate leadership.
I only hope that both Democrats and Republicans
can come together, for once, for the good of the country.
Congratulations to you and your family.
May God bless you.
May God bless our glorious nation.
Judge Gorsuch, the podium, sir, is yours.
(applause)
Judge Gorsuch: Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. President, thank you very much.
Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, you and your team
have shown me great courtesy in this process and you've
entrusted me with a most solemn assignment.
Standing here in a house of history and acutely aware of
my own imperfections, I pledge that if I am
confirmed I will do all my powers permit to be a
faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of
this great country.
For the last decade, I've worked as a federal judge in
a court that spans six western states, serving
about 20 percent of the continental United States
and about 18 million people.
The men and women I've worked with at every level
in our circuit are an inspiration to me.
I've watched them fearlessly tending to the rule of law,
enforcing the promises of our Constitution, and living
out daily their judicial oaths to administer justice
equally to rich and poor alike, following the law as
they find it, and without
respect to their political beliefs.
I think of them tonight.
Of course, the Supreme Court's work is vital not
just to a region of the country, but to the whole;
vital to the protection of the people's liberties under
law and to the continuity of our Constitution, the
greatest charter of human liberty the world has ever
known.
The towering judges that have served in this
particular seat of the Supreme Court, including
Antonin Scalia and Robert Jackson, are much in mind at
this moment.
Justice Scalia was a lion of the law.
Agree or disagree with him, all of his colleagues on the
bench cherished his wisdom and his humor and like them,
I miss him.
I began my legal career working for Byron White, the
last Coloradan to serve on the Supreme Court and the
only justice to lead the NFL in rushing.
(laughter)
Judge Gorsuch: He was one of the smartest and most
courageous men I have ever known.
When Justice White retired he gave me the chance to
work for Justice Kennedy as well.
Justice Kennedy was incredibly welcoming and
gracious and like Justice White, he taught me so much.
I am forever grateful.
And if you've ever met Judge David Sentelle, you'll know
just how lucky I was to land a clerkship with him right
out of school.
(inaudible)
Justice Gorsuch: Thank you.
These judges brought me up in the law.
Truly, I would not be here without them.
Today is as much their day, as it is mine.
In the balance of my professional life, I've had
the privilege of working as a practicing
lawyer and teacher.
I've enjoyed wonderful colleagues whose support
means so much to me at this moment as it has
year-in and year-out.
Practicing in the trial work trenches of the law, I saw
too that when we judges don our robes, it doesn't make
us any smarter, but it does serve as a reminder of what
is expected of us: impartiality and
independence, collegiality and courage.
As this process now moves to the Senate, I look forward
with speaking with members from both sides of the
aisle, to answering their questions,
and to hearing their concerns.
I consider the United States Senate the greatest
deliberative body in the world, and I respect the
important role the Constitution affords it in
the confirmation of our judges.
I respect, too, the fact that in our legal order it
is for congress and not the courts to write new laws.
It is the role of judges to apply, not alter, the work
of the people's representatives.
A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very
likely a bad judge.
(laughter)
Judge Gorsuch: Stretching for results he prefers
rather than those the law demands.
I am so thankful tonight for my family, my friends,
and my faith.
These are the things that keep me grounded at life's
peaks and that sustain me in its valleys.
To Louise, my incredible wife and companion of 20
years; my cherished daughters, who are watching
on TV; and all my family and friends, I cannot thank you
enough for your love and for your prayers.
I could not attempt this without you.
Mr. President, I am honored and I am humbled.
Thank you very much.
(applause)