Latest News

United States Supreme Court's Gorsuch actions away from case after recusal request

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch will not get involved in an ecological case to be argued next week involving a. proposed train in Utah, the court said on Wednesday, a move. that followed a call by some Democratic lawmakers for him to. recuse over a possible dispute of interest.

The one-paragraph statement revealed by a court. official came in a letter dealt with to attorneys in the event due. to be argued next Tuesday. The other 8 justices will hear. and decide the case.

Gorsuch chose to withdraw from taking part in the case. constant with the standard procedure adopted by the court last. year, the statement stated, but offered no additional explanation.

U.S. congressman Hank Johnson and 12 other Democratic. lawmakers sent out a letter to Gorsuch on Nov. 21 advising his. withdrawal because business person Philip Anschutz, a former legal. customer of the justice, has a direct monetary interest in the. outcome of the case. The legislators said that the Anschutz. Expedition Corporation and other companies tied to the. business person could be affected by the case.

Johnson, who has required stiffer principles requirements at. the Supreme Court, applauded Gorsuch on Wednesday for his. recusal decision, calling it the right and honorable thing.

It is important that the court reveal the public that it is. not in the pocket of billionaire benefactors, Johnson added. That stated, I think we need a system that does not simply rely. on individual justices to do the ideal thing in every case.. The court last year announced its very first standard procedure for the. justices amid revelations connected to undisclosed luxury trips. and other financial ties to wealthy benefactors, though it. lacked any enforcement system.

The case from which Gorsuch withdrew involves a bid by a. group of counties in Utah to construct a train line to link the. Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah to an existing freight rail. network that would be mainly used to transfer waxy crude. oil.

The case evaluates the scope of ecological effect research studies. that federal companies need to carry out under a 1970 federal law. called the National Environmental Policy Act, which is aimed at. preventing environmental damages that might arise from significant. jobs.

(source: Reuters)