The past several days have demonstrated why the judiciary is so important—our courts serve as a check and balance on the other branches of government if they break the law or violate the Constitution. Judges have stopped President Trump's discriminatory executive order that attacks Muslims and refugees, and this issue could land at the Supreme Court, underscoring the need for independent, open-minded Supreme Court Justices.

But instead of looking for a fair, mainstream Supreme Court nominee, President Trump outsourced the selection of his finalists to the ideological Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation. He has said that he has litmus tests for pro-life nominees who will overturn Roe v. Wade and for their views on religious liberty. It can be no surprise that this rigged process led to the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch.

 Judge Gorsuch has ruled in favor of the idea that corporations are people and against women’s access to contraception. He believes it should be harder for individuals to join together so they can hold corporations accountable. He supports legal theories that are outside the mainstream and would endanger protections for clean air, clean water, workers’ rights, consumer safety, and much more.

 The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans seeks to advance Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and our country towards a common purpose of progress, prosperity and well-being for all. Judge Gorsuch’s record is a step backward for our nation, and therefore, we oppose his nomination to the Supreme Court and urge Senators to do the same.