When Neil Gorsuch appears before the judiciary committee for his confirmation hearing as nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Colorado's U.S. Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet will introduce him.
Gardner made the announcement Friday afternoon, pointing out that it's customary for the senators of a nominee's home state to give the introduction.
Judge Gorsuch is from Colorado and sits on the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Democrat Bennet has not said whether he will support Gorsuch, who was nominated by President Donald Trump on Jan. 31. Conservative groups are pressuring the senator to vote for him.
Gardner's support is not in question.
“I am honored to introduce Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch before the Judiciary Committee at the beginning of his confirmation hearing,” Gardner said in a statement. “A fellow Coloradan, Judge Gorsuch is an exceptional jurist who will bring a Western perspective to the Supreme Court. I enthusiastically support his nomination and I look forward to introducing him at his upcoming hearing.”
Gorsuch has long been the beneficiary of support from Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz, and the Denver Post has reported on a letter of support featuring "signatures from more than 200 Colorado legal eagles, from former Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justices Michael Bender and Rebecca Love Kourlis to Jack Finlaw, former chief legal counsel to Gov. John Hickenlooper."
Bennet held a town hall at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction Friday afternoon.
The hearing is on Monday, March 20, at 9 a.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
