The confirmation hearing of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch began Monday with opening statements from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Arizona was represented on the committee by Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona who said he considers judge Gorsuch a “class act.”
Flake’s opening statements were complimentary of the nominee. He said he appreciated Gorsuch’s “originalist” interpretation of the Constitution, which is a view that justices should rule based on what is explicitly written in the Constitution, rather how the court thinks it ought to be interpreted.
He also noted the addition of Gorsuch, who currently lives in Colorado, would improve geographic diversity in the Supreme Court. He contends that’s important for Arizona where more than 81 percent of the land is controlled by the federal government.
"Decisions made by the federal government and the regulators have an outsized impact on the state and our ability to earn a living particularly in rural areas," Flake said. "And I think judges from the west have a better understanding of that."
The confirmation hearing will continue through this week. Gorsuch will face about an hour of questioning from each panel member on Tuesday and Wednesday.
