This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sat down Wednesday afternoon with President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch. Hatch, as the former chairman of and longest-serving Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will play a key role in Gorsuch's confirmation. Utah's senior senator gave the judge advice on navigating the process. Trump announced his pick of Gorsuch, a member of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Utah in its jurisdiction, Tuesday night. Hatch — who has had a part in confirming 12 Supreme Court justices, including all eight currently sitting on the bench — has vowed to "do everything in my power to ensure his nomination."