From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is the Daily.

Today, day two of Judge Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Senators question, who does Gorsuch work for? The President, corporations, or regular Americans?

And, as Democrats attack Gorsuch as an enemy of regular Americans,

a case that he says proves they're wrong. It's Wednesday, March 22.

So, let's start with my first question. I'd like to have you describe in any way you want to,

what judicial independence means, and specifically tell us whether you'd have any trouble ruling against a president who appointed you.

That's a softball, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry. So, that's a softball, Mr. Chairman.

I have no difficulty ruling against or for any party, other than based on what the law and the facts in the particular case require.

From the very beginning of his confirmation hearing on Tuesday morning, Judge Neil Gorsuch was fielding questions about independence.

Questions from the left and from the right, starting with independence from the man who nominated him.

I really want to congratulate the president to pick you quite frankly. I was worried about who he'd pick. Maybe somebody on TV.

For Democrats, the question of independence went further. Judge Gorsuch would replace the league conservative Justice Anthony Scalia.

Scalia was known to vote for businesses when their interests clashed with those other workers.

Gives you a short list, led better versus good year tire, which limited the ability of women to seek equal pay.

Gross VFBL financial services, which made it more difficult to prove age discrimination.

The University of Southwest Texas.

Senator Diane Feinsign began with what would be a focus of Democrats all day, independence from corporate interests.

Each of these cases was five to four and Justice Scalia voted with the majority against the employee in every case.

President Trump and others have said you are the next Scalia.

How do we have confidence in you that you won't just be for the big corporations?

Adam, what was Senator Feinsign getting at with that question?

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