Conservative Gorsuch set to ‘tilt’ Supreme Court balance

Washington: President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, seizing an unusual early opportunity to put conservatives back in the majority on America’s top court.

In a primetime address late on Tuesday that was part jurisprudence, part reality show, Mr Trump tapped the 49-year-old appeals court judge from Denver, Colorado.

If confirmed by the Senate, he will fill the seat made vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago and tilt the balance of the court five-to-four in conservatives’ favour.

The elegant, silver-haired jurist with a flair for writing incisive rulings is the youngest nominee in a generation. His appointment could have a major impact on cases ranging from business regulation to gender rights to gun control.

After unprecedented hyping of the announcement, Mr Trump invited Mr Gorsuch and his wife to emerge dramatically before an audience in the East Room of the White House.

“Here they come. Here they come. So was that a surprise? Was it?” said Mr Trump.

“He could have had any job at any law firm for any amount of money, but what he wanted to do with his career was to be a judge, to write decisions, and to make an impact by upholding our laws and our Constitution,” Mr Trump said.

Despite the razzmatazz, Mr Gorsuch was a remarkably an orthodox pick for a President who has scythed through norms and precedent during his brief time in office.

Democrats, who are in a minority in both chambers of Congress, are still smarting from Republican treatment of Obama’s pick Merrick Garland. Although Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate, they need 60 to confirm a nominee. That means Gorsuch must be able to win some Democratic votes — a task made tougher by the row over Trump’s ban on travelers from several Muslim countries.