Washington(CNN) Supreme Court justices took a break from the final month of the term on Thursday to pose for their updated class photo and showcase the newest member of the court: Neil Gorsuch.
As the cameras clicked, some justices smiled broadly, others looked slightly annoyed with having to participate in a formality that comes as the justices are racing to finish the last opinions of the term.
The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for an official group portrait to include new Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, top row, far right, Thursday. June 1, 2017, at the Supreme Court Building in Washington. Seated, from left are, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Standing, from left are, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr., Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Chief Justice John Roberts sat in the first row, flanked by the two most senior justices: Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg abandoned her usually lacy neck collar for a colorful beaded "jabot."
Gorsuch, 49, the most junior justice, stood in the back row at times whispering with a smiling Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
The court is at full strength again after the justices spent several months trying to dodge 4-4 splits while Gorsuch grappled with a particularly bitter confirmation process.
Now they are united in a common pursuit of finishing up outstanding opinions before the court's summer recess, slated to begin by July.
Today's Supreme Court
The justices of the US Supreme Court sit for an official photograph on June 1, 2017. In the front row, from left, are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer. In the back row, from left, are Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch.
In 2005, John Roberts was nominated by President George W. Bush to succeed Sandra Day O'Connor as an associate justice on the US Supreme Court. After Chief Justice William Rehnquist died, Bush named Roberts to the chief justice post. The court has moved to the right during Roberts' tenure, although Roberts supplied the key vote to uphold Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.
Anthony Kennedy was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. He is a conservative justice but has provided crucial swing votes in many cases. He has authored landmark opinions that include Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Clarence Thomas is the second African-American to serve on the court, succeeding Thurgood Marshall when he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush in 1991. Thomas is a conservative and a strict constructionist who supports states' rights.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, she is a strong voice in the court's liberal wing.
Stephen Breyer was appointed by Clinton in 1994 and is part of the court's liberal wing.
Samuel Alito was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 and is known as one of the most conservative justices to serve on the court in modern times.
Sonia Sotomayor is the court's first Hispanic and third female justice. She was appointed by Obama in 2009 and is regarded as a resolutely liberal member of the court.
Elena Kagan is the fourth female justice to ever be appointed, and she is counted among the court's liberal wing. She was appointed by Obama in 2010 at the age of 50. She is the court's youngest member.
Neil Gorsuch is the court's newest member. He was chosen by President Donald Trump to replace Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016.
Gorsuch 'extraordinarily diligent'
After his confirmation in April, Gorsuch wasted no time peppering advocates at oral arguments with questions, even sitting for a major religious liberty case.
"He's extraordinarily diligent," said Ginsburg at en event last week hosted by the Aspen Institute. She noted that he had sat for arguments one week after his confirmation and heard 13 cases.
"Somehow he was well prepared," she said.
Unlike the general public, Ginsburg by now has more than an inkling of Gorsuch's ideological bent, having witnessed his voting patterns behind closed doors.
"I imagine that when you compare how I vote and he votes it will be just the same as it was when you compared me to Justice Scalia," she told the audience.
If past is precedent, Gorsuch has likely already been assigned a non-controversial case to pen for his first opinion.
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch
President Donald Trump watches as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, right, administers the judicial oath to Neil Gorsuch during
a White House ceremony on Monday, April 10. Gorsuch was chosen by Trump to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. Holding the Bible is Gorsuch's wife, Marie Louise.
Gorsuch was born August 29, 1967, in Denver. Here, his aunt holds him at his baptism.
This photo provided by the Gorsuch family shows Gorsuch as a boy with his sister Stephanie and one of their grandmothers.
Groomsmen pose for a photograph with Gorsuch and his wife at their wedding in England in 1996.
Neil and Marie Louise Gorsuch pose with family members at their daughter's baptism in 2000.
Gorsuch with his wife. He is described by colleagues and friends as a silver-haired combination of wicked smarts, down-to-earth modesty, disarming warmth and careful deliberation.
Neil and Marie Louise pose with their children, Emma and Belinda.
This photo provided by the Gorsuch family shows the judge rowing.
Gorsuch with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia later autographed a copy of the photo.
Gorsuch and his family on the ski slopes. Gorsuch is an avid skier, fly fisherman and hiker.
Gorsuch and his wife pose for a photo with their friend Michael Trent and Trent's oldest son during a fishing trip near Granby, Colorado, in September 2008. Gorsuch is godfather to both of the Trent family's sons.
Gorsuch is sworn in as a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit on November 20, 2006. His wife is holding the Bible.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Gorsuch in the East Room of the White House in January 2017.
Gorsuch, with his wife by his side, listens to Trump announce his Supreme Court nomination.
US Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, meets with Gorsuch at the Capitol on February 1, 2017.
Gorsuch faces members of the news media while meeting with US Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, on February 1.
Gorsuch arrives for his Capitol Hill meeting with Hatch. A week later, Gorsuch took exception to Trump calling a federal judge in Seattle a "so-called judge" after that judge blocked the President's travel ban. Gorsuch described the President's tweets about the judiciary as "demoralizing" and "disheartening."
Gorsuch, seen through glass, speaks with staff members before meeting with US Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, on February 27.
Busy June facing justices
Besides religious liberty, there are other important outstanding cases concerning immigration and trademark registration as well as a case brought by plaintiffs seeking to hold former high level administration figures accountable for post-9/11 policies.
The court could also see in the coming days an appeal from the Trump administration of a lower court ruling that blocked the President's travel ban. That will test the newly appointed Gorsuch, who will vote on a key initiative crafted by the president who nominated him.
The justices are also meeting regularly to consider whether to take up major cases for next term on hot-button issues such as religious liberty, the Second Amendment and a follow-up to the same-sex marriage opinion from a couple of years ago.