U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch stepped back Wednesday from a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) case involving a Utah railway project, following criticism over his past ties to Colorado billionaire Philip F. Anschutz.
Supreme Court Clerk Scott S. Harris announced the recusal in a letter, stating that Justice Gorsuch had determined he would no longer participate in the case in accordance with the judicial code of conduct.
Ethical Concerns Raised
Justice Gorsuch’s decision comes after 13 Democratic lawmakers and several advocacy groups urged him to recuse, citing his prior legal work for Anschutz, whose oil and gas company, Anschutz Exploration Corp., submitted an amicus brief supporting the railway project.
Before joining the bench, Gorsuch represented Anschutz and his businesses, including Qwest Communications, while at Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick PLLC. Anschutz also lobbied for Gorsuch’s appointment to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals during the George W. Bush administration.
