Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 1. Man With a Plan
Aug 15, 2026 · 40m
Summary
This episode of Slow Burn introduces Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch through the "frozen trucker" case, where he ruled against a driver fired for unhitching his trailer to survive extreme cold. The narrative explores Gorsuch’s conservative upbringing, his mother’s controversial EPA tenure, and his early activism in the Federalist Society. It highlights his strict textualist judicial philosophy and opposition to the administrative state, setting the stage for an examination of his impact on the current Supreme Court.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Slow Burn and Becoming Justice Gorsuch
The Frozen Trucker Case: Alphonse Madden's Story
Gorsuch's Ruling and the Current Supreme Court Landscape
Neil Gorsuch at Columbia University
Ann Gorsuch's Controversial EPA Tenure
Neil's Reaction to His Mother's Scandal
Debates, Federalist Paper, and College Life
Harvard Law, Federalist Society, and Clerkships
The Administrative State and Judicial Philosophy
Confirmation Hearing: The Franken-Gorsuch Exchange
Episode Conclusion and Bonus Content Preview
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