WEBVTT - Gorsuch Speaks Out Against Trump Comments (Audio)

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<v Speaker 1>Donald Trump's attacks on the judiciary have become a central

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<v Speaker 1>issue in the confirmation battle over his Supreme Court nominee,

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<v Speaker 1>Neil Gorcich. Earlier this week, Trump lashed out at what

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<v Speaker 1>he called a so called judge who halted his travel

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<v Speaker 1>band against seven mostly Muslim countries. Then yesterday Trump took

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<v Speaker 1>a preemptive swipe at the federal Appeals Court that is

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<v Speaker 1>now considering that case. Meanwhile, Gorstch is making the rounds

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<v Speaker 1>and meetings with the senators who will be considering his nomination.

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<v Speaker 1>He has told them he is quote disheartened and quote

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<v Speaker 1>demoralized by the President's comments. That's according to both lawmakers

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<v Speaker 1>who met with him and the nominee's spokesman. Here's Nebraska's

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<v Speaker 1>Republican Senator Ben Sass speaking on MSNBC. This is a

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<v Speaker 1>guy who kind of welled up with some energy, and

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<v Speaker 1>he said any attack on any of I think it's

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<v Speaker 1>termed to me was brothers or sisters of the robe,

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<v Speaker 1>is an attack on all judges. And he believes that

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<v Speaker 1>an independent judiciary. Are gorsages comments strong enough and how

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<v Speaker 1>will the controversy over Trump's attacks on the judiciary effect

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<v Speaker 1>his confirmation prospects? Our guests to discuss this are Caroline Frederickson,

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<v Speaker 1>president of the Progressive American Constitution Society, and Jonathan Adler,

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<v Speaker 1>law professor at Case Western Reserve Law School. Caroline, when

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<v Speaker 1>I heard the news yesterday that Gorcers had said he

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<v Speaker 1>was disheartened and demoralized, my first reaction was to shout out,

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<v Speaker 1>in pretty a pretty loud voice, WHOA. What was your

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<v Speaker 1>first reaction when you heard him say that? Well, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I guess I've been in d C too long.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a little cynical. Um, I I must say

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<v Speaker 1>to think that that perhaps he was, uh, that there

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<v Speaker 1>was an effort to distance himself a little bit from

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<v Speaker 1>Trump and the attacks on judges in order to ensure

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<v Speaker 1>that his confirmation battle would go more smoothly. Um. But

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<v Speaker 1>of course, you know, he is a sitting federal judge

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<v Speaker 1>and so UM, you know, I think it is a

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<v Speaker 1>very uncomfortable position for him to be in, uh, to

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<v Speaker 1>hear the President saying things that I think are completely

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<v Speaker 1>out of the norm of what we year from politicians, typically,

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<v Speaker 1>at least about federal judges. Um, well, he's in the

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<v Speaker 1>process of trying to get confirmed, Jonathan, is he being

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<v Speaker 1>strategic knowing these questions will be asked in confirmation hearings.

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<v Speaker 1>The a Democratic National Committee spokesman said today, this is

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<v Speaker 1>clearly a meaningless White House orchestrated attempt to help Judge

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<v Speaker 1>gorse It's pretend he won't be a rubber stamp for

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<v Speaker 1>the Trump administration. Well, I mean, look, I think the

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<v Speaker 1>comments he made are certainly appropriate. I think they're what

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<v Speaker 1>you would expect from a federal judge who takes his

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<v Speaker 1>or her responsibilities seriously and who has concerned for the

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<v Speaker 1>independence of the judicial branch. Um, you know, based on

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<v Speaker 1>what I believe we know about Judge gorsuch As record,

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<v Speaker 1>those sorts of comments coming from the sort of judge

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<v Speaker 1>that he has been that has shown the independence he

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<v Speaker 1>has shown throughout his career, is what we would expect.

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<v Speaker 1>And um, you know, whether or not the White House knew,

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<v Speaker 1>who knew who was going to say that or not,

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<v Speaker 1>it's the sort of thing we would should want and

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<v Speaker 1>expect a judge in his position to say. And I'm

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<v Speaker 1>glad that he said those things. But what about the

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<v Speaker 1>timing of his saying it? You know, when he's seeing

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<v Speaker 1>when he's seeing senators and before his confirmation hearings. Well, look,

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<v Speaker 1>my assumption is that senators have asked these questions in

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<v Speaker 1>those meetings, and UM, I think it would be unreasonable

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<v Speaker 1>to expect a judicial nominee to refuse to answer such

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<v Speaker 1>questions in private meetings. There's nothing inappropriate with the questions,

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<v Speaker 1>at least as far as what we know of the

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<v Speaker 1>Given what we know about what was asked, there's nothing

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<v Speaker 1>there that seems inappropriate to me. Uh. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>senators asked those questions. I can't see how it would

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<v Speaker 1>be inappropriate for the nominee uh to give the sorts

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<v Speaker 1>of responses that Judge Corset's reportedly made. Caroline, since you're

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<v Speaker 1>a little cynical about the comments, is there something more

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<v Speaker 1>you want you want to hear Judge Corsets say exactly,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, as Jonathan said, exactly what people want to hear, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>what they expect from a sitting judge. But what I

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<v Speaker 1>think has to happen and is going to happen in

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<v Speaker 1>the process, is he's going to be expected to speak

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<v Speaker 1>more um directly about how independent he is. UM. And Uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, apart from his nomination, the President himself has

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<v Speaker 1>created a situation in which, UM, there is a real

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<v Speaker 1>need for him to clarify, and we'll go back over

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<v Speaker 1>the you know, the sort of the circumstances. But I

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<v Speaker 1>think certainly the president himself has repeatedly attacked federal judges. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>He attempts to, you know, not just use the bully pulpit,

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<v Speaker 1>he actually attempts to just bully. And it seems that

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<v Speaker 1>he thinks he can get his way in the court

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<v Speaker 1>um by um intimidating judges UM. And you know, most recently,

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<v Speaker 1>as you mentioned, uh with the Ninth Circuit and expected ruling, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, already sort of uh sort of attacking uh

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<v Speaker 1>the judges in that case there was Judge Curiel because

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<v Speaker 1>he was a Mexican Mexican uh origin or from his

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<v Speaker 1>his parents were Mexican um. And that was the camp

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<v Speaker 1>during the camp pay in the case about Trump University exactly.

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<v Speaker 1>And so I think all of that, um, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>plus is very explicit um statement multiple times during the

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<v Speaker 1>campaign and more recently that he has a litmus test um. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I think we'll make the Democratic senators particularly,

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<v Speaker 1>but I think some of the Republicans will want to

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<v Speaker 1>push him um to say, you know, how do you

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<v Speaker 1>feel about those statements repeatedly, the ones that you know

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<v Speaker 1>they're sort of trying to extract certain outcomes in certain

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<v Speaker 1>cases as well as the litmus test, And they're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>want to know that he hasn't sort of made up

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<v Speaker 1>his mind um on particular cases, that he has the

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<v Speaker 1>ability to rule against the president if necessary. They're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>be a lot of lawsuits against this president. They're already

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<v Speaker 1>many making their way through the court system, um. And

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<v Speaker 1>I think they're gonna want to see that he truly

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<v Speaker 1>is an independent UH judge and will be an independent justice.

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<v Speaker 1>So does that mean, Jonathan, that there will be so

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<v Speaker 1>much UH concentration on his independence from the presidency that

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<v Speaker 1>other things might get lost? Well, certainly, there is a

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<v Speaker 1>limited amount of time that UH senators have. The committee

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<v Speaker 1>hearings will not go on forever um, and it's certainly

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<v Speaker 1>likely that these questions will be a take up a

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<v Speaker 1>larger proportion of the discussion in the Judiciary Committee hearings

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<v Speaker 1>as well as in Judge Gorst's remaining courtesy calls. And

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<v Speaker 1>that's what I think we should expect. As Caroline noted,

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<v Speaker 1>the President has put Judge Gorsch and any future judicial

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<v Speaker 1>nominees the President has UH in a difficult situation because

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<v Speaker 1>the President has made comments that suggests that the president's

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<v Speaker 1>view of the role of the judiciary and the degree

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<v Speaker 1>of independence that the judicial branch would have is quite

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<v Speaker 1>different from what we usually expect and demand of our judici.

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<v Speaker 1>Shire Senator Jeff Sessions is now Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

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<v Speaker 1>He was sworn in today after getting Senate confirmation last

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<v Speaker 1>night on a virtually party line vote. He vowed to

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<v Speaker 1>make crime fighting and illegal immigration his priorities. Meanwhile, President

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<v Speaker 1>Trump signed three executive actions directing the Justice Department to

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<v Speaker 1>intensify its efforts to fight drug related crime and violence

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<v Speaker 1>against police officers. We're talking with Caroline Frederickson, president of

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<v Speaker 1>the American Constitution Society, and Jonathan Adler of Case Western

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<v Speaker 1>Reserve Law School. Jonathan, this is a very controversial nomination. Um.

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<v Speaker 1>What are you most interested in seeing UH from Jeff

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<v Speaker 1>Sessions in the Justice Department? What should we be watching

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<v Speaker 1>for in the next few weeks and months. Well, there's

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<v Speaker 1>there's a lot in there. I mean, certainly, what we

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<v Speaker 1>should be watching for first and foremost is the extent

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<v Speaker 1>to which he upholds the commitments he made in the

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<v Speaker 1>confirmation process UH to basically execute the laws, and to

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<v Speaker 1>be to run the Justice Department in an independent way

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<v Speaker 1>in accord with federal laws. Some things that I think

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<v Speaker 1>we should be paying particular attention to is how he

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<v Speaker 1>resolves some conflicts between his obligations and perhaps some of

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<v Speaker 1>his personal views. UM. One issue that's been the Justice

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<v Speaker 1>Department is dealt with in some respects struggled with over

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<v Speaker 1>the last several years is how to deal with the

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<v Speaker 1>fact that quite a number of states have either partially

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<v Speaker 1>or completely legalized the position and use of marijuana within

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<v Speaker 1>their states. UM, while marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

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<v Speaker 1>Just Sessions has been a supporter of the drug war generally,

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<v Speaker 1>UH supported the probation of marijuana, but has also, especially

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<v Speaker 1>as Attorney General of Alabama, was was a big advocate

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<v Speaker 1>of getting states greater flexibility UH and and endorsing federals

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<v Speaker 1>and principles more broadly. UH areas like what to do

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<v Speaker 1>about marijuana put those two preferences in conflict, and it's

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<v Speaker 1>an example of the sort of thing I think we

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<v Speaker 1>should be watching because we're not quite sure what direction

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<v Speaker 1>he's going to go. In Caroline, federal judges granted a

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<v Speaker 1>Justice Department request to delay an initially hearing on a

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<v Speaker 1>police reformer Green meant with the Baltimore Police Department that

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<v Speaker 1>was made by the former Attorney general, and during his hearing,

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<v Speaker 1>Sessions would only say that deals that had been accepted

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<v Speaker 1>by judges would have to be ended by the judge.

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<v Speaker 1>What with the law and order stance that Trump and

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<v Speaker 1>Sessions are known for, what is likely to happen to

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<v Speaker 1>that agreement? Could it be scuffled? Well, I mean, it

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<v Speaker 1>certainly seems like that's what they're trying to do. Uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I think it's very unfortunate because when you

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<v Speaker 1>have something like the Baltimore agreement, which was the product

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<v Speaker 1>of a long long process, uh back and forth with

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<v Speaker 1>the police department, with the Justice Department. UM, the community

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<v Speaker 1>is obviously very much affected by how this works out.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's very unfortunate that all of that work

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<v Speaker 1>is going to be potentially thrown out. Um. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>I think, you know, and would hope that, uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>where where there has been you know, deep engagement by

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<v Speaker 1>the community, we don't have this UM federal agency sort

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<v Speaker 1>of deciding to reconsider all that input and go back

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<v Speaker 1>to square one. Jonathan Donald Trump's approach towards things involving

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<v Speaker 1>the law have been UH. Chaotic might be a good word, UM.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, in terms of things like the rollout

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<v Speaker 1>of the UM, the the travel ban, UM and various

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<v Speaker 1>other things. Would you imagine that Jeff Sessions will his

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<v Speaker 1>confirmation will impose a little more order in terms of

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<v Speaker 1>how the administration goes about legal issues. I certainly hope so.

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<v Speaker 1>And if one looks at the people that have been

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<v Speaker 1>identified for some of the other positions in the Justice Department,

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<v Speaker 1>I do think there is cause for some optimism. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>Folks like Rachel Brandon Rod Rosenstein, who have been identified

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<v Speaker 1>for the number two and number three spots at the

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<v Speaker 1>Justice Department UM are very well regarded UH and I

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<v Speaker 1>think will certainly help or should certainly help some some

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<v Speaker 1>more order to what the Justice Department does. And I

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<v Speaker 1>would hope to the way legal questions are dealt with

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<v Speaker 1>more broadly in the administration. It's always hard at the

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<v Speaker 1>beginning of a new administration UH to to keep everything

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<v Speaker 1>UH running and to deal with the necessary cast of transition,

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<v Speaker 1>because you don't have your people in place, you don't

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<v Speaker 1>have the people in position to make your decisions folks

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<v Speaker 1>that are holdovers from the prior administration might not agree

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<v Speaker 1>with your agenda. The career UH folks might not agree

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<v Speaker 1>with your agenda or might not really understand what it is.

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<v Speaker 1>And so generally, as you you can put your people

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<v Speaker 1>in place, you have greater ability to to bring some

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<v Speaker 1>consistency and focus to your administration's operations. I want to

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<v Speaker 1>thank our guests. That was Jonathan Adler, professor at Case

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<v Speaker 1>Western Reserve Law School, and Caroline Frederickson, who is the

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<v Speaker 1>president of the Progressive American Constitution Society. Coming up, one

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<v Speaker 1>of the things Donald Trump has done is an executive

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<v Speaker 1>order that says agencies have to eliminate two regulations for

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<v Speaker 1>every new one they put in place. And there's now

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<v Speaker 1>a legal challenge to that. We'll talk about that on

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Law. This is Bloomberg h