Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court Nomination: Democrats Attempt To Filibuster

WASHINGTON, DC — Democrats intend to filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to become the next justice on the Supreme Court of The United States. As long as Democrats convince 41 senators to use the filibuster, they will be able to stall the nomination.

And according to multiple sources, including the Washington Post and CNN, 41 senators were publicly committed to filibustering by Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, lawmakers voted 11-9 to approve President Trump's nominee. Gorsuch will be voted on by the Senate this week.

If Democrats do filibuster, Republicans are widely expected to change the Senate rules so that only 51 votes are required to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. This move, known as the "nuclear option," would be a major reversal of Senate precedent.

Filibustering a Supreme Court nominee is itself a dramatic step for Democrats.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, told Sharman Sacchetti of 7 News in Boston that though she supports filibustering Gorsuch, there "absolutely" are nominees Trump could put forward that she would approve. Sen. Ed Markey, the other Massachusetts Democrat agreed, saying, "The problem is not with the process; the problem is with the candidate."

However, some Democrats previously indicated that they would oppose anyone the Republicans put forward because the GOP refused to even vote on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, whom President Obama put forward for the same open court seat that Gorsuch would fill.

Still other Democrats oppose using the filibuster against Gorsuch.

"Neither Republicans nor Democrats are blameless for where things stand in our politics and on this nomination," said Colorado Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet. "But at some point, we need to take the long view and stand up for our institutions."

He continued: "I will oppose efforts to filibuster the nomination, and strongly encourage my colleagues to use the nuclear option."

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