NBC’s Pete Williams: Judge Gorsuch Could Be More Influential than Scalia

‘He could be more influential as a conservative than Antonin Scalia was in terms of attracting votes’

WILLIAMS: "In many ways,  he'll be as conservative, undoubtedly as Justice Scalia, perhaps in some ways more so for example on issues of the rights of criminal defendants. Justice Scalia was a big believer that somebody shouldn't be sentenced for issues that weren't decided by the jury that judges shouldn't impose extra sentences, the right to confront your accuser in court. Perhaps not as conservative as Scalia in some areas, but one place, Brian, where he may make a difference, what we think of as Antonin Scalia today, the fully formed Scalia was a man of strong opinions, and not necessarily a persuader of the court. He sort of staked out his position and in essence dared other people to join him. The other judges who talk about Neil Gorsuch on 10th Circuit say he perhaps is more of a somebody who can build coalitions. He could be more influential as a conservative than Antonin Scalia was in terms of attracting votes."

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