Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey said Thursday he has “serious concerns” about Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch and plans to vote against his confirmation.
Thursday marks the fourth and final day of confirmation hearings for Gorsuch. Congress is expected to vote Monday, April 3.
Gorsuch has been compared to the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and faced criticism after claims from former law students who said the judge asked a class if anyone knew women who abused maternity benefits.
“I don’t believe that Judge Gorsuch’s judicial approach would ensure fairness for workers and families in Pennsylvania, and indeed, across the country,” Casey said.
Though Casey said he doesn’t support the nomination of Gorsuch, the Democrat’s vote may not make much of a difference in the Republican-held Congress. Some Democrats have threatened a filibuster, which would mean the judge would have to get 60 of the 100 votes to claim the seat.
Some Republicans have threatened use a "nuclear option" that would only require 51 votes. Casey said the position should be held to a higher standard.
“I hope Republicans would not go in the direction of a rule change on the Supreme Court,” Casey said. “I think it would be bad. Forget the institution for a minute, because that’s important, but I think it would be really bad for the country.”
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowan leading confirmation efforts, said Gorsuch would preserve the country’s “constitutional order and set his personal views aside. Democrats would have a “difficult time justifying a vote against him,” he said.
