Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch made an appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Thursday, Aug. 8, to talk about his view of the downside of governmental overreach — a theme that is central to his new book, “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law.”
Gorsuch told the audience about cases he has come across in his career involving local business owners, fishermen and even a magician, who faced lengthy legal battles over narrow federal regulations.
“I have seen so many cases where ordinary Americans — decent, hardworking people —who are trying to do their best, just getting whacked by laws unexpectedly,” Gorsuch said.
Gorsuch has made a string of public appearances in recent days, including his Thursday speech on a warm Southern California evening with a crowd of about 450 at the Reagan Library.
His book, which he co-wrote with his former clerk Janie Nitze, focuses on “the lives of real people who are feeling the tolls of excessive regulation.”
At the Reagan Library, he explained, “Part of this is people are distrusting one another. If I trust you and you trust me, in my local community, then we can work together and we don’t need to use the law to solve problems.”
But he argued that when laws become increasingly complex, “We end up needing more lawyers and entities involved, and it just becomes impossible for average Americans to have access to justice.”
During a Fox News interview on Sunday, Aug. 4, Gorsuch said President Joe Biden should “be careful” before trying to enact Supreme Court reforms.
Gorsuch’s controversial warning came after Biden’s recent announcement of sweeping proposed reforms, including Supreme Court term limits, an enforceable ethics code for the Supreme Court’s nine justices and a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity.
Gorsuch has called for limited government regulation.
Gorsuch was nominated to the Supreme Court by former President Donald Trump and has served on the bench since 2017.
In June, the Supreme Court overruled the 1984 decision in the landmark case Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which had directed courts to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of federal laws. By overruling the “Chevron doctrine,” the Supreme Court — with Gorsuch as part of the 6-3 majority — sharply cut back on the power of federal regulators.
Beyond discussing his book, Gorsuch cracked several jokes to the friendly audience about his office, basketball and Supreme Court clerks.
He thanked the Reagan Library staff, saying, “I’m thankful for the hospitality and the opportunity to walk through this magnificent place. I learn something new every time I’m here.”
The Reagan Library has hosted numerous prominent conservative speakers in recent years, including former House Speaker Paul Ryan and former Vice President Mike Pence. The library also hosted the second Republican primary debate between seven candidates for the 2024 presidential nomination in September 2023, but Donald Trump did not participate.
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