New Justice Neil Gorsuch is set to make a major impact on the Supreme Court in his first week of oral arguments, which includes a major religious liberty case that conservatives hope swings their direction now that the appeals court judge has been added to the bench.
For the first time in more than a year, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week with the full complement of nine justices. Oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer will be held Wednesday, when the high court will seek to decide whether Missouri violated the Constitution in its decision to bar a church from a state program that gives nonprofits funding to resurface their playgrounds. Missouri's Constitution includes a provision that prevents public funds from directly or indirectly assisting any church, sect or religion....
