washington u.s. supreme court navigate difficult period short one member year justices across ideological spectrum often manage find common grind sense unity promise soon put test nine-justice court end 2016-2017 term monday flurry rule resume work october recently restore conservative majority could become assertive justices tackle big case whether u.s. constitution let businesses refuse serve gay couple religious reason presidential power manipulate electoral district boundaries partisan gain neil gorsuch republican president donald trump appointee join court april give conservatives 5-4 majority gorsuch already establish among conservative outspoken justices even begin first full term certainly see case sharply divide chicago-kent college law professor carolyn shapiro say partisan tensions washington deepen since trump take office january supreme court largely remain fray 14 months court operate eight justices follow justice antonin scalia death divide equally liberals conservative show great unanimity decisions recent years time justices often sidestep major rule divisive issue resolve several case narrowly try avoid 4-4 vote would leave legal question unresolved court even avoid sharp ideological split decision monday handle trump contentious order ban people six muslim majority countries enter unite state four liberal justices silent court allow part order go effect agree decide legality policy next term court already agree hear several major case justices likely divide ideological line include one conflict gay right religious freedom concern christian baker colorado refuse make cake same-sex couple cite religious beliefs justices also weigh whether state legislative district violate constitutional protections draw purely gain partisan advantage case involve republican-configured electoral map wisconsin could major consequences u.s. elections travel ban case trump first big supreme court battle major test presidential power trump administration argue judiciary show deference president national security matter term end court able decide two case hear monday justices order case immigration-related issue re-argue next term gorsuch would able participate action suggest court divide 4-4 along ideological ground case review rule 2016-2017 term compare previous years show high rate unanimity likely prompt great need compromise without decisive ninth vote 69 case court issue decisions merit dissent vote 41 59 percent accord kedar bhatia compile court statistics scotusblog website compare 44 percent court previous term 40 percent one prior eight members think court try hard achieve much agreement possible close case not-so-close ones say kannon shanmugam lawyer regularly argue court shorthanded justices take few case likely divide ideologically example take six case patent protections higher-than-normal number issue usually unanimous supreme court 's recent unity face loom test