(San Francisco, CA, January 31, 2017) – Today the President announced the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to fill the 11-month long vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. The previous administration had nominated Merrick Garland, widely regarded as a political moderate, for the same position.

Statement from NCLR Legal Director, Shannon Minter:

“We strongly oppose this nomination. Gorsuch has embraced extreme positions far outside the mainstream of most jurists, including a dangerously radical view of religious liberty that would undermine anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and others. We are deeply disappointed by President Trump’s choice of such an extreme candidate, whose views pose a real threat to our nation’s core principles of equality and freedom for all, and urge the Senate to reject his nomination.”