Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Neil Gorsuch

Public opinion and media debates around Neil Gorsuch—discover key moments of controversy.

Neil McGill Gorsuch is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Donald Trump, he assumed office on April 10, 2017. Gorsuch is a prominent figure in the American legal system.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2005: Gorsuch Argues Liberals Rely Too Heavily on the Courts

In a 2005 National Review article, Gorsuch argued that American liberals have become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders, which compromises the judiciary.

July 2006: Gorsuch's Book "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia" is Published

In July 2006, Gorsuch's book "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia" by Princeton University Press was published. In the book, Gorsuch makes clear his personal opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

2017: Gorsuch sells property to law firm CEO

In 2017, Neil Gorsuch sold a property he co-owned for $1.8 million to the CEO of a prominent law firm, Greenberg Traurig, leading to ethics questions regarding why he did not list the buyer on his ethics form, when reporting a profit of between $250,000 and $500,000.

2017: Sale of timeshare and ethics concerns

In 2017, it was reported that Neil Gorsuch owned a timeshare outside Granby, Colorado, with associates of Philip Anschutz, which was later sold the same year. Since 2017, Greenberg Traurig has been involved in at least 22 cases before or presented to the Supreme Court.

December 2018: Gorsuch Dissenting on Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding

In December 2018, Gorsuch dissented when the Court voted against hearing cases brought by Louisiana and Kansas to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, arguing that it was the Court's job to hear the case.

February 2019: Gorsuch Rejects Stay Blocking Abortion Restriction in Louisiana

In February 2019, Gorsuch sided with conservative justices to reject a stay temporarily blocking a Louisiana law restricting abortion, which would require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges in a hospital.

2019: Gorsuch Criticizes Trump Administration's Ban on Bump Stocks

In 2019, Gorsuch wrote a statement criticizing the Trump Administration's ban on bump stocks in the Guedes v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives case. He also criticized the justification used by the U.S. Court of Appeals for upholding the ban.

June 2020: Gorsuch Dissenting in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo

In June 2020, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's abortion restriction in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo. Gorsuch was among the four dissenters.

October 2020: Gorsuch Denies Appeal from Kim Davis

In October 2020, Gorsuch agreed with the other justices to deny an appeal from Kim Davis, a county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

November 26, 2020: Gorsuch strikes down COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship

On November 26, 2020, Gorsuch joined the majority opinion in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, which struck down COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state of New York on houses of worship.

June 2021: Gorsuch Rules in Favor of Catholic Adoption Agency

In June 2021, Gorsuch joined the justices in ruling in favor of a Catholic adoption agency that had been denied a contract by the City of Philadelphia due to the agency's refusal to adopt to same-sex couples. He also joined Alito's concurrence arguing for reconsidering Employment Division v. Smith.

September 2021: Gorsuch Votes to Allow Texas Abortion Ban

In September 2021, the Supreme Court declined a petition to block a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks; Gorsuch was in the majority.

November 2021: Gorsuch Dissenting in Mercy San Juan Medical Center Case

In November 2021, Gorsuch dissented from the Court's decision to reject an appeal from Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a hospital that sought to deny a hysterectomy to a transgender patient on religious grounds.

June 2022: Gorsuch Dissents in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta

In June 2022, Gorsuch dissented in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, which considered criminal jurisdiction on Native American territory. Gorsuch criticized the opinion for opposing the expanded viewpoint of non-Native criminal jurisdiction and giving jurisdiction over such crimes to both tribal and federal/state governments.

June 2022: Gorsuch Joins Majority Overturning Roe v. Wade

In June 2022, Gorsuch was among the five justices in the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, ruling that there is no constitutional right to abortion.

April 2023: Politico report on Gorsuch's property sale

In April 2023, Politico reported that Neil Gorsuch sold a cabin to Brian Duffy, the CEO of Greenberg Traurig, a law firm that litigates cases before the Supreme Court, but Gorsuch failed to disclose the purchaser's identity on his federal disclosure forms.

May 18, 2023: Gorsuch Issues Statement Criticizing COVID-19 Restrictions

On May 18, 2023, Gorsuch issued a statement about the Court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at continuing Title 42 expulsions of immigrants. He criticized government restrictions imposed since the pandemic started in March 2020.

November 2023: Gorsuch declines to hear case against Washington State's ban on conversion therapy

In November 2023, Gorsuch voted with the majority to decline to hear a case against Washington State's ban on conversion therapy for minors, allowing the law to stand.