washington death justice antonin scalia saturday mean normally nine-member u.s. supreme court probably eight rule divisive issue abortion immigration affirmative action power public-sector unions replacement unlikely appoint current supreme court term end june possibility split 4-4 string rule court equally divide low court rule remain place national precedent set scalia death affect case yet argue arguments already hold rule issue court experts say preliminary vote scalia take case already argue long count graphic major case court current term see tmsnrt.rs/1mcg8wn death could deprive court conservative majority major win guarantee win liberal cause short term justice anthony kennedy conservative sometimes side four liberals still key vote could change outcome major case argue january could affect influence public-sector unions issue whether public employees want join union require pay fair share service fee equivalent members dues without violate first amendment right free speech association base oral arguments appear conservative majority ready vote unions 4-4 split likely outcome would hand win unions would leave low court rule favor place similarly court december consider important affirmative action dispute whether university texas admissions program consider race applicants ensure campus diversity violate constitutional guarantee equality unclear base oral argument court would vote justice elena kagan already recuse case scalia death mean long 4-4 split liberal wing could win kennedy join would lead unexpected victory affirmative action advocate court yet hear oral arguments three major case scalia likely key vote conservative wing court march court consider tough new abortion law texas women health providers say infringe upon constitutional right women abortion law require clinics carry abortions costly hospital-grade facilities require physicians carry abortions admit privilege hospital within 30 miles operate court first abortion case since 2007. court split 4-4 law would uphold april court due weigh president barack obama bid resurrect plan shield four million illegal immigrants deportation unilateral executive action take 2014 bypass republican-led congress scalia death necessarily boost administration chance obama executive action block low court mean 4-4 split would leave rule intact scalia 's death set affect court 's rule current term