The Young Justice: Meet Donald Trump's Pick to Replace Justice Scalia

image
Published: 31 Jan, 2017
1 min read

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday evening that his pick to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia's vacant seat on the Supreme Court is Judge Neil Gorsuch. Gorsuch, 49, currently serves on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado, and was appointed by President George W. Bush.

CNN reported Tuesday that two finalists were flown to Washington ahead of the president's primetime announcement, Gorsuch and Third Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman -- also a Bush appointee.

For those keeping an eye on Twitter, a new account was created with Gorsuch's name hours ahead of the announcement with the handle, @JusticeNGorsuch. Who created it has not been verified as the account calls him an "Associate Justice of the Supreme Court" before he has even been given a confirmation hearing.

The account raised plenty of eyebrows as another account was created for Hardiman.

Hardiman's account was not as presumptuous, though, calling him a "Nominee for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court."

Minutes before the formal announcement, Gorsuch's account thanked President Trump for the nomination:

https://twitter.com/JusticeNGorsuch/status/826593123866382337

IVP Donate

Neither account was verified by Twitter ahead of the announcement.

Despite the last minute, reality-tv-style drama, Gorsuch ended up being Trump's finalist. He believes in a literal interpretation of the constitution and according to a study led by Mercer University law Professor Jeremy Kidd, is very similar to Scalia, a nominee Trump promised to deliver on the campaign trail.

If confirmed, Gorsuch would be the youngest member of the Supreme Court by about half a decade. Currently, the youngest member of the high court is Justice Elena Kagan at 56.

Watch the full announcement (start video at 21:00):

You Might Also Like

“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read