Concerns Raised
Gorsuch—one of President Donald Trump’s three Supreme Court appointees—voiced concerns.
Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
This happened just days after Biden reversed his stance to endorse 18-year term limits for justices and proposed legislation for a binding ethics code for the Court.
Jeopardizing Judicial Independence
Gorsuch urged Americans to carefully consider any actions that might jeopardize judicial independence.
Unsplash user Jimmy Woo
“The independent judiciary … What does it mean to you as an American?” Gorsuch questioned during the interview tied to his new book releasing this week.
Importance of Judicial Independence for the Unpopular
He continued, “It means that when you’re unpopular, you can get a fair hearing.”
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“If you’re in the majority, you don’t need judges and juries to hear you, to protect your rights, if you’re popular.”
High-Stakes Moments
“It’s there for the moments when the spotlight’s on you—when the government’s coming after you.”
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“And don’t you want a ferociously independent judge and a jury of your peers to make those decisions?”
Specifics of Biden’s Proposal Unaddressed
Gorsuch did not address the specifics of Biden’s proposal directly.
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He was not asked about the events that led to Biden’s reversal, such as the 2022 Supreme Court decision on abortion, last month’s ruling on presidential immunity, or the ethics controversies involving Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
Avoids Political Commentary
However, he did emphasize his stance on judicial independence.
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Gorsuch clarified that he was not engaging in the presidential campaign or commenting on what has become a contentious political issue.
Declines to Comment on Political Issues During Election Year
“I’m not going to get into what is now a political issue during a presidential election year,” he remarked.
Source: Jay Godwin/Wikimedia
“I don’t think that would be helpful.”
Gorsuch Sidesteps Discussion on External Ethics Code
In a separate interview with New York Times columnist David French, published Sunday, Gorsuch avoided discussing the idea of an ethics code enforced by an external body.
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This comes despite Justice Elena Kagan’s recent support for such a mechanism, as she had highlighted the lack of enforcement in the Court’s current ethics policy.
Commenting on Colleague’s Proposal Inappropriate
Gorsuch suggested that commenting on his colleague’s proposal would be inappropriate since Biden had already addressed the issue publicly.
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He noted that the topic was now being “intensely discussed by the political branches.”
Humorous Response
Gorsuch did, however, humorously respond to the idea of limiting justices to 18-year terms.
Source: Jonas Ekstomer/NDLA
He stated, “I look forward to a few years of fly fishing.”
Gorsuch to Promote Book with Interviews
Gorsuch is expected to continue promoting his book with a series of interviews this week.
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This includes an event at the Reagan Library in California.