Visit PBS NewsHour Extra for more education resources designed to help teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
Key Points
- President Donald Trump named Neil Gorsuch as his pick Tuesday to fill the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court.
- The Denver-based judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is known for his conservative legal philosophy which is seen by many as similar to that of late Justice Antonin Scalia.
- “Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline and has earned bipartisan support,” said Trump, who announced the nomination in a televised address from the White House.
- It’s not yet clear how Democrats will respond to the nomination. Several have already voiced their intent to vote against Gorsuch and many are still angry that Republicans refused to vote on former President Barack Obama’s choice to fill the vacancy, Merrick Garland.
- Gorsuch’s confirmation would create a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
Class discussion questions
- Essential question: What does it mean to be a refugee?
- What do you know about the process for coming to the United States as a refugee?
- Why is President Trump concerned about terrorists infiltrating the U.S.?
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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