It sounds like some people cannot get to the live feed, I have been covering as much as I can by loose transcription. To catch up from liveblog #3.
After 7 hours, Merkley is still engaging in substantive teaching. He is reading an article that talks about how much out of the mainstream Gorsuch is and then interpreting it on his own. (sorry, I can’t catch the author of the article.)
“The more I read, the more I think Gorsuch should run for office.” He wants to write the law, not interpret it. He wanted to legislate.
An example of Merkley’s broad view is his discussion of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He points out how Gorsuch, in his dissent, attacks the NLRB, saying that it oversteps its job when it tries to tell employers what to do (my rewording). Merkley then explains the role of the NLRB in protecting employees. He tells us that the prior congress refused to confirm appointments to the NLRB, thwarting its role to protect workers. He then says that Trump was elected because he promised to take care of working people. This is the role of the NLRB. Trump should be happy to appoint someone who knows this. Gorsuch is not this person.
He goes through case after case showing how fully Gorsuch is outside the norm. He supports big business and government over consumers, dissenting from the majority of the court to do this.
Even at this late time, Merkley is being careful to cite where he is reading from — no charges of plagiarism will arise from this.
Another case: A woman pulled from her bed in the middle of the night and held in a police car while her house was searched with no warrant suffered “minor inconvenience” and should not be allowed to take the police to court.
Several cases where majority ruled that a person didn’t receive appropriate counsel, and Gorsuch dissented.
Merkley points out that many of his dissents are against judges appointed by Republicans — he is more conservative and, in some ways also more activist.
“When a poor person is in court, you rely on your lawyer to protect you.” But Gorsuch doesn’t get that this concept of fair representation by counsel is fundamental to our legal system.
Sorry this is somewhat disjointed. i am getting tired even thinking of all Merkley is doing. He has helped crystalize my strong feeling that Gorsuch is frightening on the Court, not a compromise moderate as some people wish.
Thank you Senator Merkley. And good night to all