NEIL GORSUCH SWORN IN AS 113TH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

With all nine seats filled, threat of deadlocks fades

“I won’t ever forget that the seat I inherit today is that of a very, very great man,” Antonin Scalia. Justice Neil Gorsuch

It’s Justice GorWASHINGTON such now.

Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as the 113th justice in the history of the Supreme Court on Monday — but more importantly, as the ninth justice who will bring the court back to full strength after 14 months in the wilderness.

Chief Justice John Roberts performed the first set of honors in a private ceremony in the justices’ conference room, where Gorsuch took the constitutional oath of office, his hand on a family Bible held by his wife, Louise. All the current justices were in attendance, along with Gorsuch’s two daughters, as well as the widow and a son of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat Gorsuch will take.

Two hours later at the White House, Gorsuch took his judicial oath from Justice Anthony Kennedy, the longest- serving current justice, who employed Gorsuch as a law clerk nearly a quarter- century ago. President Trump, who nominated Gorsuch on Jan. 31, introduced Gorsuch to a supportive crowd in the Rose Garden.

Bathed in sunlight, Gorsuch thanked the president, key Senate Republicans, and his family, friends and allies for helping him reach the apex of the federal judiciary. “I am humbled by the trust placed in me today. I will never forget that to whom much is given, much will be expected,” he said. “And I promise you that I will do all my powers permit to be a faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great nation.”

He paid special tribute to Scalia, whose death in February 2016 created the vacancy. “I won’t ever forget that the seat I inherit today is that of a very, very great man,” Gorsuch said.

Trump, clearly cherishing the moment amid a rocky start to his presidency, said appointing Supreme Court justices is “the most important thing that a president of the United States does.”

“And I got it done in the first 100 days. That’s even nice,” he said to laughter from about 200 people assembled in the Rose Garden. “You think that’s easy?”

After telling Gorsuch that “our country is counting on you to be wise, impartial and fair ... and to safeguard the right of the people to govern their own affairs,” he whispered, “Go get ’ em.”

Now the newest, youngest ( at 49) member of the court can get to work, and he faces a heavy workload. There are cases to be heard in the next two weeks, including one on the separation of church and state. There are pet- itions to consider, which could lead to new cases next term on guns, voting rights and same- sex marriage. And there are cases already heard that might be deadlocked at 4- 4, in which Gorsuch could cast the deciding vote after a rehearing.

Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate 54- 45 on Friday after Republicans changed the Senate’s rules to eliminate the 60- vote threshold needed to bring high court nominations to the floor.

There would not have been a Justice Gorsuch had it not been for last year’s standoff between President Obama and Senate Republicans over Obama’s nomination of federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland to succeed Scalia. Republicans refused to give Garland a hearing.

CURATOR’S OFFICE Chief Justice John Roberts administers the constitutional oath Monday to Neil Gorsuch in a private ceremony attended by Supreme Court justices and members of the Gorsuch family in the justices’ conference room at the Supreme Court.