The US Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court Friday, culminating a 13-month fight over the vacancy and rewarding President Donald Trump by bringing a conservative tilt back to the bench.
The federal judge from Colorado crossed the finish line in a 54-45 vote, one day after Trump’s Republicans controversially changed Senate rules to circumvent a Democratic blockade of his nomination.
“Today is a new day,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said ahead of the vote, seeking to put a positive stamp on what has been a contentious congressional process for the new Republican administration.
Gorsuch is “going to make an incredible addition to the court,” McConnell said.
“He’s going to make the American people proud.” The White House said Gorsuch — the youngest nominee in a generation — will be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday at 9am (1300 GMT, 9pm Malaysia) in a private ceremony.
A public White House ceremony follows at 11am.
Trump, in his superlative style, praised Gorsuch’s confirmation process as “the most transparent and accessible in history.”
“As a deep believer in the rule of law, Judge Gorsuch will serve the American people with distinction as he continues to faithfully and vigorously defend our Constitution,” he said in a statement.
The 49-year-old judge has been hailed by Republicans as a worthy successor to towering conservative justice Antonia Scalia, who died in February 2016 as the presidential race was gaining steam.
The nine-justice court has had one seat vacant for more than a year amid the ensuing political battle, with Democrats and Republicans trading bitter accusations of blame.
Gorsuch’s ability to write incisive rulings and his defence of a strict reading of the Constitution have fuelled comparisons with Scalia.
But Gorsuch was staunchly opposed by opposition Democrats, angry that Republicans refused to grant a hearing to then-president Barack Obama’s pick to replace Scalia, Merrick Garland.
McConnell argued that since it was an election year, the next president should pick the nominee.
The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of many of the most sensitive issues of American life and law. Its members are appointed for life, so their influence is long-lasting.
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