Justice Neil Gorsuch pushed back publicly on Donald Trump's personal attacks, saying the president's criticism only reinforced his belief that judges must remain independent and fearless. In a rare interview with ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis, Gorsuch said he was reflecting on the ideals of the Declaration of Independence after Trump called him and Justice Amy Coney Barrett a disgrace, disloyal, unpatriotic, fools and lapdogs, and an embarrassment to their families.
Gorsuch voted with Chief Justice John Roberts, Barrett and the court's three liberals in February to invalidate Trump's sweeping global tariffs, and the president lashed out after the ruling. Asked about that response, Gorsuch said, “We want independent judges, people who are fearless and able to apply the law without respect to persons, as our judicial oath says, right? That's why we're giving life [tenure] to anybody, and it's quite an honor.” He added, “It's a humbling privilege to be able to serve in this capacity, and I'm just one link in a long chain.”
The interview came as Gorsuch promoted a new children's book, “Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence,” which was officially released Tuesday. He said, “We tell the story about the debate that led up to [the Declaration]. It almost didn't go through,” and argued that the country's founding ideals have to be renewed by each generation. “None of this is inevitable, and it isn't inevitable that it will survive. America's biggest enemy is itself. I believe we have to recommit every generation... if we're going to carry those ideals forward,” he said.
The justice, confirmed to the Supreme Court in 2017, said he shares Chief Justice Roberts' concern that the surge in personal attacks on judges is dangerous, while also stressing that criticism itself is part of democracy. “Part of the job of the judge is to accept criticism. Right? Everybody's got a right to free speech,” he said. Gorsuch also said the recent attempted assassination of Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner left him “heartbroken.”
What stands out is the friction between Gorsuch's defense of judicial independence and the political reality around him. He has kept a friendly personal relationship with Justice Sonia Sotomayor and has appeared with her to promote civics education and confidence in the court, even as Trump's attacks test how far public trust in the judiciary can stretch. ABC News Live Prime was set to stream “All Access” with Linsey Davis featuring Gorsuch Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
