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AFP
WASHINGTON
PRESIDENT Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, faced senators on Monday for his confirmation hearing, with Democrats expected to grill him on his legal philosophy -- and depict him as too cozy with conservatives and the finance world.
If confirmed, Gorsuch -- a federal appeals judge for the past decade -- would fill the seat left vacant by the death of towering conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February 2016 in the middle of the presidential election campaign.
Since that time, the court has been operating with eight justices, and Democrats are still bitterly angry over Republican refusal to even consider Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland for a vote.
The Republicans, who have a majority in Senate, say they are confident Gorsuch will be confirmed, pushing the court's balance towards the right.
A Colorado native with an Ivy League education, Gorsuch -- the youngest nominee for a generation -- is known for his strict interpretation of the Constitution, as was Scalia, and his defense of so-called traditional family values.
He will be pushed to expand on his opinions on hot-button issues such as abortion, same sex marriage and the right to bear arms.
The hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to last three to four days, with opening statements followed by extended questioning from lawmakers and testimony by experts.
Gorsuch"has met every demand placed on him by the minority,"the panel's Republican chairman Senator Chuck Grassley said ahead of the hearing."He is well-qualified and respected."
"We are going to ask tough questions,"Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat who sits on the committee, told CNN on Monday.
Trump announced his pick of Gorsuch in late January, just 11 days into his presidency.
Some Democrats are demanding a 60-vote threshold for Gorsuch's confirmation, which they have permission to do under Senate rules.
"I think a nominee to the US Supreme Court ought to be approved overwhelmingly, not by a razor-thin margin. We are talking the highest court of the land -- lifetime appointment,"Blumenthal said.
With Republicans holding 52 seats in the chamber, Gorsuch would need to earn the support of at least eight Democrats to win confirmation.
