washington confirm expect week u.s. senate president donald trump supreme court nominee would join new fellow justices time act divisive case concern religion gun big business underscore neil gorsuch importance fifth conservative nine-justice court senate republican leaders pledge confirm colorado-based appeal court judge friday first official task swear would come april 13 private meet among justices discuss take various appeal low court appeal pending expand gun right include carry conceal firearms public state vote restrictions critics say aim reduce minority turnout allow business owners object religious ground serve gay couple three could lead landmark rule take april 17 justices begin hear new round oral arguments include closely watch case separation church state focus whether missouri church improperly deny state fund court near end current term run october june gorsuch also would play key role important case justices already agree hear next term include bid employers prevent workers bring class action claim goal big business court divide four conservatives four liberals since february 2016 death conservative justice antonin scalia major issue court highlight significance gorsuch fill scalia seat restore court 5-4 conservative majority senate republicans pave way trump replace scalia refuse last year consider democratic former president barack obama nomination appellate judge merrick garland fill vacancy would give court liberal majority first time decades legal experts suspect conservative majority court could motivate conservative lawyers bring case hope five justices back abortion restrictions oppose political spend limit favor wide gun religious right justice anthony kennedy conservative sometimes side four liberals remain court swing vote experts expect gorsuch align court two stalwart conservatives samuel alito clarence thomas reason think anything extremely conservative say chicago-kent college law professor carolyn shapiro four vote need take case private meet justice important among pending appeal court likely act come weeks case activists ask justices rule first time u.s. constitution second amendment protect right bear arm extend carry firearms outside home another case court could decide whether revive voter-identification restrictions north carolina block low court justices also could hear christian baker religious claim force sell cake gay couple conservative justices generally take expansive view gun religious right may back state laws whose republican backers say intend prevent voter fraud april 19 court hear religious right case church contend missouri violate constitution guarantee religious freedom deny fund playground project due state ban aid religious organizations gorsuch rule several time favor expansive religious right decade judge give gorsuch solicitude religious liberty join court help church say ilya shapiro lawyer libertarian cato institute think tank several case court already hear yet decide gorsuch could play role court option hear fresh arguments gorsuch position cast potential decide vote one case bid miami revive lawsuits accuse major bank predatory mortgage lend black hispanic home buyers another concern whether family mexican teenager sue u.s. border patrol agent fatally shoot 15-year-old across border texas long term issue likely return court conservative-backed challenge could weaken organize labor court expect deny unions vital source cash last year scalia die issue 4-4 rule leave place low court decision favor unions court also likely weigh whether transgender students protect federal law prohibit sex discrimination education court take question last fall march send case back low court without resolve main legal question contentious case await trump 's u.s. high court nominee gorsuch