The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) on Tuesday night praised the nomination of U.S. Appeals Court Judge Neil Gorsuch as a step toward "restoring a judicial philosophy on the high court that embraces the Constitution and the rule of law."
"We're very encouraged by President Trump's nominee to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court," said ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, who has argued cases both before the Supreme Court and before Gorsuch.
"He is decidedly pro-life and understands what it means to protect the constitutional freedoms afforded to all Americans," Sekulow said, adding that Democrats are likely to oppose the nomination.
"That is unfortunate,"he said. "The American people have spoken in this election. It's time to move forward and proceed without delay and confirm this nominee."
Noting that the Senate approved Gorsuch by voice vote in 2006 when he was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sekulow said any attempt to filibuster him now should be met with the "nuclear option," first introduced by Democrats in 2013 for judicial nominees, though it exempted Supreme Court nominations.
"President Trump campaigned on nominating a well-qualified, conservative jurist to replace the late Justice [Antonin] Scalia. He has fulfilled that promise," Sekulowsaid. "The Senate must do whatever is necessary – including a rules change if necessary – to permit action on this nominee."