federal appeal court judge neil gorsuch u.s. supreme court pick president donald trump conservative intellectual know back religious right see much mold antonin scalia justice choose replace gorsuch shy away needle liberals occasion 49 could influence high court decades come lifetime post confirm republican-led senate young supreme court nominee since republican president george h.w bush 1991 pick clarence thomas 43 time miss hardline west bank settlers jar kushner 's man currently serve judge 10th u.s. circuit court appeal denver city bear appoint post 2006 republican president george w. bush gorsuch white add little diversity court compare justices appoint democratic president barack obama women one become first latina justice offer geographical diversity court dominate justices east west coast episcopalian would protestant court three jewish justices five catholics exclusive poll third americans think travel ban make safe gorsuch see analysts jurist similar scalia die feb. 13 2016. scalia praise gorsuch lion law know hard-line conservatism interpret u.s. constitution base consider original mean laws write legislators like scalia gorsuch know sharp write skills role judge apply alter work people representatives gorsuch say tuesday white house event announce nomination remark echo scalia view trump republican chance nominate gorsuch republican-led u.s. senate last year refuse consider obama nominee appeal court judge merrick garland democrats anger treatment garland oppose gorsuch conservative view may seek block nomination trump may favor gorsuch job hop smooth confirmation process potential candidates appeal court judge william pryor call 1973 supreme court rule legalize abortion bad abomination constitutional law history federal government familiar territory gorsuch son anne burford first woman head u.s. environmental protection agency serve republican president ronald reagan top environmental official resign 1983 22 months job amid fight congress document epa use fund create clean toxic waste dump nationwide criticize environmentalists cut agency enforcement efforts polluters slow payments clean toxic waste high court also familiar grind gorsuch serve clerk two justices include current member court anthony kennedy conservative often cast decide vote close decisions confirm would become first clerk join former boss supreme court gorsuch also serve clerk justice byron white john f. kennedy appointee retire court 1993. gorsuch strong ivy league academic qualifications attend columbia university like several justices court harvard law school graduate year obama complete doctorate legal philosophy oxford university spend several years private practice work george w. bush justice department 2005 article conservative national review magazine gorsuch criticize american liberals overweening addiction courtroom implement social agenda everything gay marriage assist suicide senate confirmation hear appellate court judgeship say point article could apply group across political spectrum 2013 gorsuch play role high-profile rule involve arts-and-crafts retailer hobby lobby allow owners private company object religious ground obamacare provision require employers provide health insurance cover birth control women decision late uphold u.s. supreme court say provision violate federal law call religious freedom restoration act concurrence gorsuch express sympathy choice face evangelical christian owners company exercise faith save business gorsuch also criticize important legal doctrine direct court defer federal agencies interpretation statutes last august case immigration rule gorsuch call doctrine elephant room concentrate federal power way seem little difficult square constitution write extensively topic assist suicide euthanasia argue legalization write question relate senate confirmation hear ask whether write would make bias case matter say personal view would play role decisions judge gorsuch marry two teenage daughters live outside boulder colorado friends former clerk say lover outdoors describe excellent skier fly fisherman runner use joke face colorado tourism former gorsuch clerk jane nitze say trump supreme court nominee gorsuch see mold scalia