1. What will Neil Gorsuch be the first Supreme Court Justice to do?

2. When will Justice Gorsuch begin his tenure on the Supreme Court?

3. Why could Justice Gorsuch be the deciding vote on a religious freedom case to come before the court on April 19?

4. What type of judge is Neil Gorsuch?

5. What is textualism (originalism)?

6. Read the “Background” below the questions. Consider the following:

• Democrats/progressives/liberals say they are against Judge Gorsuch because he is viewed as a conservative and they believe he will make his court rulings based on his personal philosophies.
• Republicans/conservatives say they support Judge Gorsuch because he is a constitutionalist and will not make his court rulings based on his personal philosophies, but rather on what the constitution says. They support Constitutionalists (the late) Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, whose strict interpretation of the Constitution has at times led them to make “liberal” rulings, not based on what they personally believed on the issue, but what they believed the Constitution says.

This can be confusing, and possibly boring:) to some of you, but it is important that you understand the issue in order to be a good citizen and an educated voter. Do you support constitutionalist or activist judges? Explain your answer.