Berkley Center

On January 31, President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the next Supreme Court justice, and this week Gorsuch is undergoing his Senate hearing. As a federal judge in Colorado, Gorsuch has proven to some to be a staunch defender of religious freedom. He sided with Hobby Lobby Stores, which objected to coverage of certain drugs and devices required by the Affordable Care Act contraceptive provisions in their employer-sponsored health insurance plans, and ruled in Yellowbear v. Lampert that a Native American prison inmate should have access to the sweat lodge in the prison yard, emphasizing the importance of the freedom to practice one’s faith while incarcerated.

What are some potential upcoming questions surrounding religious liberty the Supreme Court might see? How might Gorsuch's potential confirmation impact the contours of religious freedom in the United States, especially in relation to other civil liberties?