National Urban League Urges Thorough Review of Supreme Court Nominee's Record

NEW YORK (January 31, 2017) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial tonight urged a thorough review of the judicial record and public statements of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Morial said he was concerned about Gorsuch’s apparent judicial extremism and criticism of those who have sought advancement of individual rights through the courts.

Morial said he was especially alarmed by Gorsuch’s ruling in an excessive force claim in which a police used a stun gun to kill a young man suspected of growing marijuana. Gorsuch said the use of force was justified even though “the crime of which he was suspected was not itself a violent one, he was likely to be apprehended eventually and he hadn’t harmed anyone yet.”

Morial also noted Gorsuch has consistently ruled against the rights of workers and consumers who were harmed by employers and corporations, and against disabled students pursuing their right to a meaningful education. 

The National Urban League will conduct its own thorough review of Gorsuch's record, he said.