He Ain't No Judge Judy

US Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch was questioned about his personal views on same-sex marriage today but refused to share them.
‘If I were to begin speaking about my personal views on this subject – which every American has views on – it would send a misleading signal to the American people.’ Gorsuch said during his confirmation before members of the US Senate.
Gorsuch was asked about his views by US Senator Al Franken and whether they have changed since the 2004 election when bans were passed in 11 states.

Gorsuch’s close friend Ken Mehlman was chairman of the Republican National Committee at that time and helped get the bans passed.
Mehlman has since come out publicly as a gay man and supporter of marriage equality.
While Gorsuch frustrated Franken with a version of a non-answer that he had given before, the federal appeals court from the Denver-based 10th Circuit did say same-sex marriage is ‘absolutely settled law.’
But then he added: ‘There is ongoing litigation about its impact and its application right now and I cannot begin to share my personal views.’

The US Supreme Court has handed down three crucial 5-4 rulings on marriage equality in recent years.
In 2013, the high court gutted key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act and allowed California’s Proposition 8 to remain overturned.
Then in 2015, the court made a ruling that resulted in same-sex marriage being legal in all 50 US states.
A vacancy has existed on the high court for more than a year since the death of conservative anti-gay justice Antonin Scalia.
LGBT groups are against the confirmation of Gorsuch because he has, among other things, ruled that the religious beliefs of employers can trump the law.
The appointment is being closely watched because of the current make-up of the court which could be deciding future ‘religious freedom’ cases.
Keep in mind, this is the same man who wrote in a 2005 National Review op-ed: “American liberals,” he wrote, “have become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders and the ballot box, as the primary means of effecting their social agenda” on liberal issues including “gay marriage.” He also noted that voters routinely rejected same-sex marriage on the ballot, scoffing that liberals can only “win a victory on gay marriage when preaching to the choir before like-minded judges in Massachusetts.”