Neil M. Gorsuch officially joined the U.S. Supreme Court on April 10, 2017, after a closely watched confirmation process and a 54–45 Senate vote. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump to fill the seat left vacant by Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, his confirmation came only after a historic Senate rule change that allowed for a simple majority vote—highlighting the growing polarization in judicial nominations.

Born on August 29, 1967, in Denver, Colorado,…