"Dear Friend,
This week, the U.S. Senate will be voting on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite his impressive academic credentials, Judge Gorsuch’s record and evasive responses – even refusing to answer questions regarding his views of cases like Roe v. Wade and Citizens United – do not give me confidence that he possesses a judicial philosophy that will serve the American public well. Rather, an examination of Judge Gorsuch’s judicial record reveals he has consistently sided with corporations over workers and individuals, ruled against a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, and ruled in favor of weakening campaign finance laws.
Nominees to the Supreme Court traditionally secure confirmation by garnering support from more than 60 Senators, a process of ending debate called cloture. Because Judge Gorsuch has failed to reach that threshold of support, it is possible Senate rules will be changed by majority Republicans in order to allow for a final confirmation vote by a simple majority requiring only 51 votes.
I have grave concerns about any attempt to change Senate rules on confirmation of Supreme Court nominees. These changes would have severe and lasting consequences on our Supreme Court, which I believe should remain above the current hyper-partisan environment rather than being shaped by it. I have hoped that bipartisan efforts would result in a better way forward, instead of Republicans threatening to impose the ‘nuclear’ option. But such a threat is not alone reason enough to support a nominee who has not provided the Senate with sufficient assurances regarding his approach and judicial philosophy.
For these reasons, I plan to vote against cloture and against Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Warner"
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