The father of an autistic student against whom Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch ruled in 2008 told senators today that Gorsuch's views "threatened" his son's access to a quality education "and thus to a meaningful and dignified life. | Getty Father of autistic student: Gorsuch's views 'threatened' son's education

The father of an autistic student against whom Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch ruled in 2008 told senators Thursday that Gorsuch's views "threatened" his son's access to a quality education "and thus to a meaningful and dignified life."

Jeffrey Perkins was one of several people testifying for and against Gorsuch's nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is the father of a student at the center of a 2008 Colorado case in which the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously sided with a school district that the parents claimed was failing to educate their child. Gorsuch wrote the opinion for the court.


While the student showed some progress in classes, he didn’t seem to retain what he’d learned. Gorsuch wrote the opinion, which reversed three prior rulings, arguing the school had complied with federal disability law because the student needed to show gains that were “merely more than de minimis."

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that public schools must go the extra mile to educate special needs children. The decision specifically challenges the legal standard used by the 10th Circuit to interpret the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires a “free and appropriate public education” for disabled students.

"Thank you for the opportunity today to give voice to my son, Luke, whose access to an appropriate education, and thus to a meaningful and dignified life, was threatened by views of Judge Neil Gorsuch," Perkins said. "Judge Gorsuch thought that an education for my son that was even one small step above insignificant was acceptable."

Gorsuch on Wednesday said that as a judge, he was bound by precedent in deciding the case.

"If anyone is suggesting that I like a result where an autistic child happens to lose, that’s a heartbreaking accusation to me. Heartbreaking," Gorsuch told senators. "I was wrong because I was bound by circuit precedent, and I’m sorry."

Read Perkins' full written testimony here.