History of Neil Gorsuch in Timeline

Neil McGill Gorsuch is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Donald Trump, he assumed office on April 10, 2017. Gorsuch is a prominent figure in the American legal system.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

August 29, 1967: Neil Gorsuch Born

On August 29, 1967, Neil McGill Gorsuch was born. He is an American jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Others born on this day/year

1976: Anne Burford in Colorado House of Representatives

From 1976, Neil Gorsuch's mother, Anne Burford, served in the Colorado House of Representatives.

1980: Anne Burford in Colorado House of Representatives

Until 1980, Neil Gorsuch's mother, Anne Burford, served in the Colorado House of Representatives.

1981: Enrollment in Georgetown Preparatory School

In 1981, Neil Gorsuch enrolled in Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, as a freshman.

1981: Anne Burford Appointed to EPA

In 1981, Neil Gorsuch's mother, Anne Burford, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman to serve as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

1984: Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

In Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (1984), the Supreme Court instructed courts to grant deference to federal agencies' interpretation of ambiguous laws and regulations.

1985: Graduation from Georgetown Preparatory School

In 1985, Neil Gorsuch graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School as student body president.

1986: Co-founded The Fed

In 1986, Neil Gorsuch co-founded the satirical student publication, The Fed, at Columbia University.

1988: Graduation from Columbia University

In 1988, Neil Gorsuch graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

1991: Law Clerk for Judge Sentelle

From 1991, Neil Gorsuch served as a law clerk for Judge David B. Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

1991: Graduation from Harvard Law School

In 1991, Neil Gorsuch graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor, cum laude. Future president Barack Obama was among his classmates.

1992: Studies at Oxford

From 1992, Neil Gorsuch studied at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar.

1992: End of Clerkship with Judge Sentelle

Until 1992, Neil Gorsuch served as a law clerk for Judge David B. Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

1993: Clerk for Justices White and Kennedy

From 1993, Neil Gorsuch clerked for Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy.

1994: End of Clerkship for Justices White and Kennedy

Until 1994, Neil Gorsuch clerked for Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy.

1995: Joins Private Practice

In 1995, Neil Gorsuch began private practice with the law firm of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick.

1995: Joins Kellogg Huber Law Firm

In 1995, Neil Gorsuch joined the law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel as an associate.

1996: Marriage to Louise

In 1996, Neil Gorsuch married Louise, an Englishwoman and champion equestrienne whom he met during his stay at Oxford.

1996: Gorsuch Marries Marie Louise

In 1996, Neil Gorsuch married Marie Louise at St. Nicholas' Anglican Church in Henley-on-Thames.

1997: Continues as Associate at Kellogg Huber

From 1995 until 1997, Neil Gorsuch worked as an associate in the Washington, D.C., law firm Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel.

1998: Partner at Kellogg Huber

In 1998, Neil Gorsuch became a partner at the law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel.

2001: NSA Warrantless Surveillance

From 2001, Neil Gorsuch helped Attorney General Alberto Gonzales prepare for hearings after the public revelation of NSA warrantless surveillance.

2002: Op-ed criticizing Senate

In 2002, Neil Gorsuch wrote an op-ed criticizing the Senate for delaying judicial nominations.

2004: Receives Doctorate from Oxford

In 2004, Neil Gorsuch received a Doctor of Philosophy in legal philosophy from the University of Oxford, focusing on assisted suicide and euthanasia.

2004: Doctorate from Oxford University

In 2004, Neil Gorsuch received his doctorate in jurisprudence from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar. His doctoral thesis concerned the morality of assisted suicide.

June 2005: Joins Department of Justice

From June 2005, Neil Gorsuch served as Principal Deputy to the Associate Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice.

November 2005: Inspection of Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp

In November 2005, while managing the United States Department of Justice Civil Division, Neil Gorsuch traveled to inspect the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

2005: Appointment to Department of Justice

In 2005, Neil Gorsuch became the principal deputy associate attorney general at the United States Department of Justice.

2005: National Cable & Telecommunications Ass'n v. Brand X Internet Services

In National Cable & Telecommunications Ass'n v. Brand X Internet Services (2005), the Supreme Court ruled on deference to federal agencies' interpretation of ambiguous laws and regulations.

2005: Gorsuch Argues Liberals Rely Too Heavily on the Courts

In a 2005 National Review article, Gorsuch argued that American liberals have become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders, which compromises the judiciary.

2005: Leaves Kellogg Huber

Until 2005, Neil Gorsuch worked as partner at the law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel.

January 2006: Recommendation for Nomination

In January 2006, Philip Anschutz recommended Neil Gorsuch's nomination to Colorado's U.S. senator Wayne Allard and White House Counsel Harriet Miers.

May 10, 2006: Nomination to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

On May 10, 2006, President George W. Bush nominated Neil Gorsuch to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

July 2006: Gorsuch's Book "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia" is Published

In July 2006, Gorsuch's book "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia" by Princeton University Press was published. In the book, Gorsuch makes clear his personal opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

July 2006: Publication of "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia"

In July 2006, Princeton University Press published Gorsuch's book, "The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia", in which he argues against euthanasia and assisted suicide, asserting the inherent value of human life.

July 2006: Leaves Department of Justice

Until July 2006, Neil Gorsuch served as Principal Deputy to the Associate Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice.

July 20, 2006: Confirmation to Tenth Circuit

On July 20, 2006, Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by unanimous voice vote in the U.S. Senate as Bush's fifth appointment to the Tenth Circuit.

2007: Dissent in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum

In 2007, Neil Gorsuch joined a dissent in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, arguing that displaying a Ten Commandments monument did not obligate the government to display other monuments.

2008: United States v. Hinckley

In 2008, Neil Gorsuch argued in United States v. Hinckley that the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act likely violates the nondelegation doctrine.

2009: Wrote panel decision on restitution

In 2009, Gorsuch wrote for a unanimous panel finding that a court may still order criminals to pay restitution even after it missed a statutory deadline.

2010: First Mainline Protestant on Supreme Court Since 2010

In 2010, Neil Gorsuch became the first member of a mainline Protestant denomination to sit on the Supreme Court since the retirement of John Paul Stevens.

2010: Supreme Court affirmed ruling in Dolan v. United States

In 2010, The Supreme Court affirmed the 2009 ruling in Dolan v. United States that Gorsuch wrote.

2011: Oklahoma Water Resources Board case

In 2011, Neil Gorsuch joined a panel finding that the dormant Commerce Clause did not prevent the Oklahoma Water Resources Board from blocking water exports to Texas.

2012: Ruled on felon gun possession case

In 2012, Gorsuch ruled in United States v. Games-Perez on a case where a felon owned a gun, upholding the conviction but arguing that precedent was wrongly decided.

2012: Reynolds v. United States

In their 2012 dissent in Reynolds v. United States, Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg held the same view on the nondelegation doctrine that Gorsuch held.

2013: Joined panel on Colorado's internet sales tax

In 2013, Gorsuch joined a unanimous panel finding that federal courts could not hear a challenge to Colorado's internet sales tax.

2013: Joined panel on bank fraud statute

In 2013, Gorsuch joined a unanimous panel finding that intent does not need to be proven under a bank fraud statute.

2013: Concurrence in Hobby Lobby Stores v. Sebelius

In 2013, Neil Gorsuch wrote a concurrence in Hobby Lobby Stores v. Sebelius regarding the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate.

2013: Supreme Court affirmed ruling in Tarrant Regional Water District v. Herrmann

In 2013, the Supreme Court affirmed that ruling in Tarrant Regional Water District v. Herrmann (2013).

2014: Joined panel on Colorado donation law

In 2014, Gorsuch joined a unanimous panel of the Tenth Circuit in finding that it was unconstitutional for a Colorado law to set the limit on donations for write-in candidates at half the amount for major party candidates.

2014: Supreme Court affirmed ruling in Loughrin v. United States

In 2014, a unanimous Supreme Court affirmed the 2013 ruling in Loughrin v. United States.

2014: Supreme Court upholds Hobby Lobby ruling

In 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., affirming Gorsuch's position.

2015: Ruled on Colorado's renewable energy mandates

In 2015, Gorsuch held in Energy and Environmental Legal Institute v. Joshua Epel that Colorado's mandates for renewable energy did not violate the commerce clause by putting out-of-state coal companies at a disadvantage, stating that the law "isn't a price-control statute".

2015: Wrote dissent to denial of rehearing en banc

In 2015, Gorsuch wrote a dissent to the denial of rehearing en banc when the Tenth Circuit found that a convicted sex offender had to register with Kansas after he moved to the Philippines.

2015: Permitted execution of Scott Eizember

In 2015, Gorsuch wrote for the court permitting Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt to order the execution of Scott Eizember, prompting a dissent.

2015: Dissent in Little Sisters of the Poor case

In 2015, Neil Gorsuch joined a dissent in Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell, opposing the denial of rehearing en banc.

2015: Supreme Court reversed ruling in Direct Marketing Ass'n v. Brohl

In 2015, the Supreme Court reversed the 2013 ruling in Direct Marketing Ass'n v. Brohl. The original ruling was from a panel Gorsuch was on.

2016: Included on Trump's list of potential Supreme Court nominees

During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, candidate Donald Trump included Gorsuch in a list of judges he would consider nominating to the Supreme Court if elected.

2016: Gorsuch speaks about judicial philosophy at Case Western Reserve University

In 2016, Gorsuch delivered a speech at Case Western Reserve University, articulating his judicial philosophy that judges should apply the law as it is, focusing on text, structure, and history, and not base decisions on their own moral convictions.

2016: Dissented in A.M. v. Holmes

In 2016, Gorsuch wrote a dissent in A.M. v. Holmes, arguing against qualified immunity for school officials who arrested a 13-year-old child for burping and laughing in gym class.

2016: Wrote dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Herbert

In 2016, Gorsuch wrote for the four dissenting judges when the Tenth Circuit denied a full rehearing of a divided panel opinion that had ordered the Utah governor to resume Planned Parenthood's funding, which Herbert had blocked in response to a video controversy.

2016: Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch

In 2016, Neil Gorsuch wrote for a unanimous panel in Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch, requiring court review before an executive agency rejects a circuit court's interpretation of an immigration law.

2016: Supreme Court reversed Tenth Circuit in Nichols v. United States

In 2016, a unanimous Supreme Court reversed the Tenth Circuit in Nichols v. United States.

2016: Supreme Court vacates and remands Little Sisters ruling

In 2016, the Supreme Court vacated and remanded the ruling in Zubik v. Burwell back to the Tenth Circuit.

2016: Tenth Circuit panel rejected commerce clause claim

In 2016, the Tenth Circuit panel, with Gorsuch writing a concurrence, rejected the challenger's dormant commerce clause claim.

January 3, 2017: Garland's nomination expired

On January 3, 2017, Merrick Garland's nomination expired because Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley did not schedule a hearing for him.

January 31, 2017: Nomination to Supreme Court

On January 31, 2017, Neil Gorsuch was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

February 1, 2017: Nomination formally transmitted to Senate

On February 1, 2017, Trump formally transmitted his nomination of Gorsuch to the Senate. The American Bar Association unanimously gave Gorsuch its top rating.

March 20, 2017: Confirmation hearing began

On March 20, 2017, Gorsuch's confirmation hearing before the Senate started.

April 6, 2017: Democrats filibustered the confirmation vote

On April 6, 2017, Democrats filibustered the confirmation vote for Gorsuch, after which Republicans invoked the "nuclear option".

April 7, 2017: Senate confirmed Gorsuch's nomination

On April 7, 2017, the Senate confirmed Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court by a 54–45 vote.

April 8, 2017: Received commission

On April 8, 2017, Gorsuch received his commission.

April 10, 2017: Service as Associate Justice Begins

On April 10, 2017, Neil Gorsuch began his service as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

2017: Wrote first U.S. Supreme Court decision

In 2017, Gorsuch wrote his first U.S. Supreme Court decision for a unanimous court in Henson v. Santander Consumer USA Inc., ruling against the borrowers.

2017: Gorsuch sells property to law firm CEO

In 2017, Neil Gorsuch sold a property he co-owned for $1.8 million to the CEO of a prominent law firm, Greenberg Traurig, leading to ethics questions regarding why he did not list the buyer on his ethics form, when reporting a profit of between $250,000 and $500,000.

2017: Gorsuch attends Episcopal church

In 2017, during his confirmation hearing, Neil Gorsuch stated he attends an Episcopal church in Boulder with his family, but has not publicly clarified his religious affiliation since marrying in a non-Catholic ceremony and joining an Episcopal church.

2017: Dissented in Pavan v. Smith

In 2017, in Pavan v. Smith, Gorsuch wrote a dissent, joined by Thomas and Alito, arguing that the Court should have fully heard the arguments of the case.

2017: Sale of timeshare and ethics concerns

In 2017, it was reported that Neil Gorsuch owned a timeshare outside Granby, Colorado, with associates of Philip Anschutz, which was later sold the same year. Since 2017, Greenberg Traurig has been involved in at least 22 cases before or presented to the Supreme Court.

December 2018: Gorsuch Dissenting on Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding

In December 2018, Gorsuch dissented when the Court voted against hearing cases brought by Louisiana and Kansas to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, arguing that it was the Court's job to hear the case.

2018: Gorsuch Joins Majority in Sessions v. Dimaya

In 2018, Gorsuch joined the majority in Sessions v. Dimaya, where the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Ninth Circuit's decision that the residual clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act was unconstitutionally vague. Gorsuch wrote a separate concurrence reiterating the importance of the vagueness doctrine.

2018: Former Clerk Becomes Justice

In 2018, Jonathan Papik, one of Neil Gorsuch's former law clerks, became an associate justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

January 2019: Gorsuch and Sotomayor Form Civil Libertarian Alliance

In January 2019, Bonnie Kristian of The Week wrote about an "unexpected civil libertarian alliance" forming between Gorsuch and Sotomayor, focusing on due process rights and skepticism of law enforcement overreach.

February 2019: Gorsuch Rejects Stay Blocking Abortion Restriction in Louisiana

In February 2019, Gorsuch sided with conservative justices to reject a stay temporarily blocking a Louisiana law restricting abortion, which would require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges in a hospital.

March 2019: Gorsuch Sides with Liberal Justices in Washington State Dept. of Licensing v. Cougar Den, Inc.

In March 2019, Gorsuch joined the four liberal justices in a 5–4 majority in Washington State Dept. of Licensing v. Cougar Den, Inc., siding with the Yakama Nation and striking down a Washington state tax on transporting gasoline, based on an 1855 treaty.

May 2019: Gorsuch Joins Liberal Justices in Herrera v. Wyoming

In May 2019, Gorsuch joined the four more liberal justices in Herrera v. Wyoming, holding that hunting rights granted to the Crow people by an 1868 treaty were not extinguished by Wyoming's statehood in 1890.

May 2019: Gorsuch becomes chairman of the National Constitution Center

In May 2019, Neil Gorsuch was announced as the new chairman of the board of the National Constitution Center, succeeding former vice president Joe Biden.

2019: Gorsuch Criticizes Trump Administration's Ban on Bump Stocks

In 2019, Gorsuch wrote a statement criticizing the Trump Administration's ban on bump stocks in the Guedes v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives case. He also criticized the justification used by the U.S. Court of Appeals for upholding the ban.

2019: Gorsuch Strikes Down Residual Clause of Hobbs Act

In 2019, Gorsuch wrote the Opinion of the Court in United States v. Davis, striking down the residual clause of the Hobbs Act based on the rationale used in Dimaya.

2019: Supreme Court overruled decision in Rehaif v. United States

In the 2019 case Rehaif v. United States, the Supreme Court overruled the 2012 decision, with Gorsuch joining.

June 2020: Gorsuch Dissenting in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo

In June 2020, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's abortion restriction in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo. Gorsuch was among the four dissenters.

July 2020: Gorsuch Writes Majority Opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma

In July 2020, Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma, finding that land reserved for the Creek Nation since the 19th century remains 'Indian country' for Major Crimes Act purposes.

October 2020: Gorsuch Denies Appeal from Kim Davis

In October 2020, Gorsuch agreed with the other justices to deny an appeal from Kim Davis, a county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

November 26, 2020: Gorsuch strikes down COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship

On November 26, 2020, Gorsuch joined the majority opinion in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, which struck down COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state of New York on houses of worship.

2020: Gorsuch Authors Majority Opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County

In 2020, Gorsuch authored the majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 grants protection from employment discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity.

2020: Wrote majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County

In 2020, Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion in the combined cases of Bostock v. Clayton County, Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, ruling that businesses cannot discriminate in employment against LGBTQ people.

June 2021: Gorsuch Rules in Favor of Catholic Adoption Agency

In June 2021, Gorsuch joined the justices in ruling in favor of a Catholic adoption agency that had been denied a contract by the City of Philadelphia due to the agency's refusal to adopt to same-sex couples. He also joined Alito's concurrence arguing for reconsidering Employment Division v. Smith.

September 2021: Gorsuch Votes to Allow Texas Abortion Ban

In September 2021, the Supreme Court declined a petition to block a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks; Gorsuch was in the majority.

November 2021: Gorsuch Dissenting in Mercy San Juan Medical Center Case

In November 2021, Gorsuch dissented from the Court's decision to reject an appeal from Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a hospital that sought to deny a hysterectomy to a transgender patient on religious grounds.

June 15, 2022: Gorsuch Rules in Favor of Native American Tribes in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas

On June 15, 2022, Gorsuch, Barrett, and the three liberal justices ruled in favor of the Native American Tribes of Texas in the case Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas. The case concerned a dispute over whether Texas could control and regulate gambling on Texan Native American reservations.

June 2022: Gorsuch Dissents in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta

In June 2022, Gorsuch dissented in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, which considered criminal jurisdiction on Native American territory. Gorsuch criticized the opinion for opposing the expanded viewpoint of non-Native criminal jurisdiction and giving jurisdiction over such crimes to both tribal and federal/state governments.

June 2022: Gorsuch Joins Majority Overturning Roe v. Wade

In June 2022, Gorsuch was among the five justices in the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, ruling that there is no constitutional right to abortion.

2022: Authored majority opinion in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

Gorsuch authored the majority opinion in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District in 2022, concerning a football coach fired for praying on the field. The opinion held the coach's conduct was protected by the First Amendment.

April 2023: Politico report on Gorsuch's property sale

In April 2023, Politico reported that Neil Gorsuch sold a cabin to Brian Duffy, the CEO of Greenberg Traurig, a law firm that litigates cases before the Supreme Court, but Gorsuch failed to disclose the purchaser's identity on his federal disclosure forms.

May 18, 2023: Gorsuch Issues Statement Criticizing COVID-19 Restrictions

On May 18, 2023, Gorsuch issued a statement about the Court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at continuing Title 42 expulsions of immigrants. He criticized government restrictions imposed since the pandemic started in March 2020.

November 2023: Gorsuch declines to hear case against Washington State's ban on conversion therapy

In November 2023, Gorsuch voted with the majority to decline to hear a case against Washington State's ban on conversion therapy for minors, allowing the law to stand.

2023: Wrote majority opinion in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

In 2023, Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, holding that the Free Speech Clause protected a web designer's freedom to sell custom wedding websites only for opposite-sex weddings.

2024: Quantitative analysis of Gorsuch's rulings

A 2024 quantitative analysis of Gorsuch's rulings found that he broadly tended to side with justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito more than any other two justices.