WASHINGTON D.C. - (KFGO) - Senator Heidi Heitkamp met privately Wednesday with 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch, the nominee to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Heitkamp, taking a shot at Senate Republican's, who broke tradition and historical precedent for refusing to give President Obama's Supreme court nominee Merrick Garland a hearing, says she believes regardless which party is in the White House, it's the senator's job to vet nominees to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court.
Heitkamp says during the 45-minute meeting with Gorsuch, the two had a "thorough" discussion about the importance of a court that is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government and about indian law and treaties. It also gave her the opportunity to see whether Gorsuch has "empathy on the bench, a fundamental trait when the poor and underprivileged in North Dakota and beyond don’t have the same access to the courts as those who are better off."
CNN is reporting Heitkamp is one of four moderate Democrat's invited to the White House for lunch Thursday in hopes of gaining their support for President Trump's nominee. Trump may need Democratic votes to confirm Gorsuch.