Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Chris Coons, D-Del., said Tuesday they are both withholding decisions about Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court nomination until after his confirmation hearing.
The two Democratic senators, both of whom sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, were among the six meetings Gorsuch held on Tuesday, five of which were with Senate Democrats. Others were Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, who also serves on the committee, and Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who some believe could be a red-state Democrat who may support the nomination.
Durbin lauded Gorsuch for his “impressive resume” and labeled him a “very thoughtful person.” However, Durbin also said he is worried about Gorsuch’s Appeals Court decision on the Hobby Lobby case, which mandated that the federal government may not force for-profit corporations to provide contraception as part of employee-sponsored insurance plans.
“I wouldn’t make any commitment at this point. I really want to sit through the hearing, hear his answers to questions. He is learned, and he is sincere and made a positive impression,” Durbin said. “But when it comes to some fundamental issues, issues relating to freedom of religion, issues relating to Citizens United and the like, I have some basic differences with his approach.”
Coons said he and Gorsuch had a “constructive” conversation, most of which was introductory. He told reporters he plans to meet with Gorsuch again after he reads through more of his opinions and becomes more familiar with his time on the federal bench. The Delaware Democrat also said he mentioned the Hobby Lobby ruling as one of the issues he is “troubled” by.
He also pushed back on opposition from liberal groups who are calling for Democrats to outright oppose Gorsuch’s nomination and almost everything that comes from the Trump administration, arguing that he has a duty as a member of the Senate to consider the nomination.
“By doing my job,” Coons said when asked how he responds to those opposing Gorsuch. “I think the people of Delaware expect me to do the job of the senator as my predecessors have done it. And the only way things get better for all of us in the Senate is if we push towards doing our job the way it was meant to be done. Does that mean I ignore and overlook and completely forget about how Judge Garland’s nomination was so badly handled? No. I haven’t forgotten. The only positive path I can imagine is to try to challenge my colleagues to also behave in a more constructive manner.”
Coons also said the Senate Republicans’ decision not to give Judge Merrick Garland a hearing or an up-or-down vote likely will not “strongly influence” his decision making process with regard to Gorsuch.
