151 president trumps pick to replace antonin scalia on the supreme courts 49yearold judge neil gorsuch begins his confirmation hearings monday ive selected an individual whose qualities define really and closely define what were looking for outstanding legal skill a brilliant legal mind and discipline trump said last month during his announcement of the nomination youve trusted me with the most solemn assignment gorsuch told trump i am acutely aware of my own imperfections it is for congress not the courts to write new laws he reflected a judge who likes every outcome he reaches is likely a very bad judge the nuclear option republicans can use to confirm supreme court nominee neil gorsuch judge neil gorsuch what you need to know about the scotus nominee trump nominates neil gorsuch for supreme court when it comes to the constitution gorsuch is an originalist that is he believes in interpreting the constitution as it was understood when it was written gorsuchs judicial record offers some insight on how he might rule on certain issues religious liberties when it comes to religious liberties and access to contraception gorsuch is a defender of the free exercise clause which says congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof case hobby lobby stores v sebelius and little sisters of the poor home for the aged v burwell issue the plaintiffs in both cases argued for an exemption from the contraception mandate in president obamas signature health care legislation the affordable care act siting religious believes opinion gorsuch sided with christian employers and religious organizations in the hobby lobby case he wrote the acas mandate requires them to violate their religious faith by forcing them to lend an impermissible degree of assistance to conduct their religion teaches to be gravely wrong criminal procedure case united states v gamesperez issue the case involved a man who was convicted of a federal crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm the defendant claimed that he was unaware his past conviction barred him from being in position of a gun opinion gorsuch argued for a new hearing but the court disagreed in his dissent gorsuch said the government should have had to prove the defendant knew he was a felon writing this courts failure to hold the government to its congressionally specified burden of proof means mr gamesperez might very well be wrongfully imprisoned the government never had to face a trial on this question it never had to prove its case that mr gamesperez knew of his felon status gorsuch added it was allowed instead to imprison him without the question even being asked the fourth amendment case united states v carlos issue did the police violate a homeowners fourth amendment rights by knocking on the door even though the homeowner had no trespassing signs on his property opinion gorsuch dissented from the rest of the court arguing that the police violated the fourth amendment when