The nomination of Neil Gorsuch was a welcome surprise in a time of great political partisanship. From all I have been able to read about Mr. Gorsuch, he is exactly the kind of person who should be appointed to the court — one who considers the case on its merits and weighs the issues against the law as it is written without bias or personal preference.
The most vocal of politicians of all parties are too ready to interject their personal agendas into the process and demand that judges promise to overturn this or that law without regard to the constitution or the facts of a particular case. That is completely wrong and will destroy any semblance of impartial justice.
I hope that the parties who oppose the nomination for political reasons — “they wouldn’t consider our candidate,” “he’s not conservative enough,” — will remember that the constitution requires the Senate to advise and consent, not to dismiss qualified candidates for political reasons.
Yes, it was wrong of the Republican leadership in the Senate to refuse to allow hearings on Mr. Obama’s nominee, but tit-for-tat would be like the blind leading the blind, and both fall into the pit.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:11
It’s time for Congress to grow up.
Judith Truesdell
Shelburne