Describing himself as a judge who will “apply the law” and not be a “secret” legislator, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch said he will attempt to be an independent justice who will “seek consensus” whenever possible. On the first day of his confirmation hearing today before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gorsuch steered clear of ideological labels and instead told the senators that “putting on” a judge’s black robe “reminds us judges that it’s time to lose our egos and open our minds.”