Cornyn: Senate Dems Grasping at Straws in Criticism of Gorsuch

It would be completely inappropriate for any nominee for the Court to come either in a private meeting or in a public setting and say well if Im elected Ill decide this case or this issue in this way.  Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.Today on the Senate floor U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed Judge Gorsuchs nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy and the recent criticism leveled by Senate Democrats after meeting with him. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyns remarks are below and video of his remarks can be found here. Several Senate Democrats have indicated that they want an up-or-down vote on that nomination and I think thats positive." People on the right and on the left alike have acknowledged that Judge Gorsuch is an incredibly qualified nominee a mainstream candidate and widely recognized as such by liberals and conservatives alike. Some of our friends on the other side are grasping at straws searching for ways to call his background or qualifications into question." The Democratic Leader even suggested because Judge Gorsuch wouldnt answer all of his questions in a private meeting that he was somehow hiding something." It would be completely inappropriate for any nominee for the Court to come either in a private meeting or in a public setting and say well if Im elected Ill decide this case or this issue in this way. Thats completely contrary to the responsibility of a judge and I think mistakes the important distinction between how judges and legislators ought to act." Take the example of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during her confirmation hearings in 1993. She said she didnt want to give any hints or previews about how she might vote on an issue before her so she politely declined to answer those questions. Nominees have since followed her example so much that it has now become known as the Ginsburg Rule." I hope our friends across the aisle dont somehow now take the position that Judge Gorsuch would be disqualified because he invokes the Ginsburg Rule which all responsible judges or nominees to the Supreme Court should invoke."  Lets drop the excuses and lets get to work."  Senator John Cornyn a Republican from Texas is a member of the Senate Finance Intelligence and Judiciary Committees.