Neil Gorsuch is an American lawyer and jurist currently serving as the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Nominated by President Donald Trump, his appointment faced controversy as the Democrats attempted to filibuster his election. However, the Republicans ultimately prevailed through the use of the nuclear option. Known for his use of textualism and originalism in interpreting the constitution, Gorsuch previously served as a judge at the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit for over a decade. With experience in both private practice and the U.S. Department of Justice, he is an alumnus of esteemed institutions such as Columbia University, Harvard University, and Oxford University.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Neil McGill Gorsuch
- Age: 56 Years, 56 Year Old Males
- Spouse/Ex-: Marie Louise Burleston (m. 1996)
- Father: David Gorsuch
- Mother: Anne Gorsuch Burford
- Children: Belinda Gorsuch, Emma Gorsuch
- Born Country: United States
- Notable Alumni: University College
- U.S. State: Colorado
- City: Denver, Colorado
- Education: Columbia University, Harvard Law School, University College
Childhood, Early Life & Education
Neil McGill Gorsuch was born on August 29, 1967, in Colorado, U.S.A. His parents, Anne Gorsuch Burford and David Ronald Gorsuch, were both lawyers who graduated from the University of Colorado. Neil grew up with one brother and one sister. He was raised Catholic and attended Christ the King School, a Catholic institution. His mother served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1976 to 1980 and later became the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, making her the first woman to hold this position. Neil followed his mother to Bethesda, Maryland, where he joined Georgetown Preparatory School.
Education and Early Career
Neil Gorsuch volunteered as a United States Senate Page during his time at Georgetown Prep. He graduated from the school in 1985 and went on to attend Columbia University in New York City. At Columbia, he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Gamma Delta societies. He graduated cum laude in 1988 with a BA degree in political science. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree cum laude in 1991. During his time at Harvard, he was known for his conservative views and support for the Gulf War and congressional term limits. He received the Marshall Scholarship in 1992 and studied at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, where he earned his PhD in law in 2004.
Career as a Judge
After completing his education, Neil Gorsuch served as a judicial clerk to several judges, including David B. Sentelle, Byron White, and Anthony Kennedy. He then joined the law firm Kellog, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel as an associate in 1995 and became a partner in 1997. From 2005 to 2006, he worked as the principal deputy to the associate attorney general at the United States Department of Justice. In 2006, he was confirmed as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, a position he held until his nomination for the Supreme Court in 2017. He was sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court on April 10, 2017.
Landmark Rulings
Throughout his career, Neil Gorsuch has been involved in several landmark rulings. In 2011, he challenged the relevance of the “dormant” commerce clause, which prevented state laws from interfering with interstate commerce. In the 2013 case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., he supported the decision that a privately owned business could be protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He also questioned the rationale of the Chevron deference, a principle of administrative law, in a 2016 case. In recent years, he has taken a stand in favor of Native American rights and LGBTQ rights.
Personal Life & Family
Neil Gorsuch married Marie Louise Burleston in 1996. They have two daughters named Emma and Belinda. The family is actively involved in the Episcopal Church. Neil’s hobbies include fly-fishing, skiing, hiking, and rowing. The Gorsuchs live in Boulder, Colorado, where they raise horses, chickens, and goats on their 3-acre plot. Neil is also an adjunct professor of law at the University of Colorado. He has authored a book titled “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia,” which was published in 2006.