This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated.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 wants a speedy, fair confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch ("Gorsuch is qualified, and politics shouldn't stop him," March 20) and brags about how many hundreds of documents and thousands of pages he pored over to confirm Gorsuch's qualifications.
Did you give President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, the same courtesy/professional review, senator? Yes, that Merrick Garland, whom you said there was "no question" could be confirmed to the Supreme Court. The same nominee who is "highly qualified," whose "legal experience is ... impressive," and whom you "would place ... at the top of the list." Except that you didn't.
Oh, the hypocrisy.
Your high-sounding rhetoric in The Tribune rings hollow, sir. I happen to believe Gorsuch is a qualified nominee. My beef is the unethical obstruction of Garland. How dare you lecture us on the dangers of politicizing the judicial process. Your leading role in obstructing Garland's confirmation was the most overt politicization of the judicial process I've ever seen.
Whatever happened to you, senator? You used to be a principled politician. Should Utah investigate Donald Trump for elder abuse?
Scott Bell
West Jordan