What You Should Know About Trump's Supreme Court Pick, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch

President Donald Trump took advantage of the primetime hour for television to announce his Supreme Court nominee. The president selected Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to fill the open seat on the Supreme Court.

Gorsuch, 49, is a 10th Circuit federal appeals judge appointed by George W. Bush. Educated at Columbia University and Harvard Law, Gorsuch is considered conservative; he has also stated that he tries to follow in Justice Antonin Scalia's path. Scalia's death in February 2016 left an open seat on the court.

Experts contend that Gorsuch is a skilled academic and interprets the Constitution as its original meaning intended. Gorsuch has never ruled on abortion, but when it comes to birth control, he is a proponent of private businesses exercising their religious freedom. As exemplified by Hobby Lobby's case, Gorsuch believes that businesses do not have to provide contraception if it infringes on their religious beliefs.

The Washington Post also reports that Gorsuch is a fan of Winston Churchill — making him an ideal candidate for Trump, who also reveres the British leader. He lives in Boulder, CO, with his wife and two daughters.

Ordinarily, it would not be strange for a president to address the nation during primetime. However, as The New York Times reports, the decision appears more like a calculated attempt to "grab attention."