Gorsuch takes the oath
Officially joins Supreme team
Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as the 113th justice of the Supreme Court Monday — just in time to take up a major case on religious liberty.
President Trump welcomed Gorsuch at a Rose Garden ceremony, where he pointed out that the former Appeals Court judge’s confirmation was accomplished in his administration’s first 100 days.
“I’ve always heard that the most important thing that a president of the United States does is appoint people — hopefully great people like this appointment — to the United States Supreme Court,” Trump said. “And I can say, this is a great honor. And I got it done in the first 100 days — that’s even nice. You think that’s easy?”
Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. administered the first constitutional oath to Gorsuch in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court.
Afterward, Justice Anthony Kennedy administered the judicial oath of office in a public White House ceremony.
Kennedy will be the first Su- preme Court justice to serve alongside one of his former law clerks.
“I am humbled by the trust placed in me today,” Gorsuch said in brief remarks.
“I will never forget that to whom much is given, much will be expected. I promise you that I will do all that my powers permit to be a faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great nation.”
Gorsuch will get to work quickly. He could soon be the deciding vote on a religious-free- dom case on the court’s docket April 19.
The case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, involves a Missouri church that in 2012 applied for a state grant open to nonprofits to upgrade playgrounds. Officials denied the application, citing a provision in the state constitution that bars public aid going to churches.
Gorsuch, who previously ruled in favor of religious liberty in the landmark Hobby Lobby case, is seen as a likely favorable vote for the church. The long-delayed case is seen as testing ground for religious institutions to get equal access to government programs.
The Supreme Court later this year could also review cases involving gay rights, gun rights and voting rights.
The high court may even weigh in on Trump’s executive action that barred visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The court has been operating with a 4-4 split of Democratic and Republican-appointed justices since February 2016, following the death of conservative justice Antonin Scalia.