ABA Committee on Federal Judiciary Rates Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch “Well Qualified”

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2017 — The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated Supreme Court nominee Neil M. Gorsuch as “Well Qualified.” The rating was done by an independent, non-partisan committee and was based on integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament and not philosophy, political affiliation or ideology.

The review consisted of hundreds of interviews conducted around the country with persons who have personal knowledge of the nominee’s qualifications. In addition, teams of distinguished law school professors examined the nominee’s legal writings (opinions, blogs, briefs, articles, etc.) for quality, clarity, knowledge of the law and analytical ability. A national team of leading practicing lawyers with Supreme Court experience also examined the nominee’s legal writings.

“The ABA’s independent Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has evaluated the professional qualifications of nominees to the Supreme Court for more than 60 years,” ABA President Linda A. Klein said. “The ABA remains uniquely qualified to review the professional qualifications of nominees and hopes to assist the Senate make as informed a decision as possible about these critically important appointments.”

The Chair of the Standing Committee, in a letter, reported the Committee’s rating to the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the nominee. The rating also is posted on the Committee’s website for the public record. The Committee will submit a written statement explaining its rating to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will become public record during the hearing.

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