Judge Gorsuch

Evangelical Leaders Back Judge Gorsuch for SCOTUS

IRD Staff on February 2, 2017

Editor’s Note: The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) posted the following statement endorsing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch on February 1st. More than 50 evangelical leaders signed the statement backing Judge Gorsuch, including Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) President Mark Tooley.

Baptist Press reported that the “ERLC plans to send the letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee” as the consider Judge Gorsuch’s nomination. Click here to view a PDF of the statement. The complete list of signatories are available on the ERLC’s website and within the PDF.

Read more about Judge Gorsuch’s background from the ERLC in their explainer piece “What you should know about Judge Neil Gorsuch” by Joe Carter.


As evangelical leaders, there are core social principles at the center of our view of human flourishing. Among the most relevant to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction are the protection of the unborn, the strengthening of religious liberty, and a dedication to human flourishing — which we believe can only be accomplished by a biblical definition of marriage and family.

Given these priorities and the call to seek our nation’s welfare, we believe that the judicial philosophy of Neil Gorsuch meets these vital thresholds. One of the highest priorities in the United States is the appointment of a Supreme Court justice who upholds the Constitution’s first freedoms. By all indication, Judge Gorsuch interprets the Constitution in accordance with America’s tradition of limited government.

Given his credentials, and considering the overwhelming support Judge Gorsuch received upon his appointment to the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in 2006 by the United States Senate, the 115th Senate should work diligently to confirm his appointment without obstruction.

A president’s nomination to the Supreme Court is one of his most important legacies. As evangelical leaders, we support President Trump’s nomination and pray for a quick confirmation process.

  1. Comment by MarcoPolo on February 2, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    God help us wherever She is!

  2. Comment by 0pus on February 4, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    Ludicrous when the elderly post such juvenile things.

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