President Donald Trump nominated Gorsuch to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia 14 months ago. When Democrats sought to block the appointment of the self-described originalist by filibustering, the Republican majority had him confirmed via “nuclear option,” with 54 votes in favor and 45 opposed.

On Monday, a week after taking his oath of office, Gorsuch took his seat on the Supreme Court, on the far left of the chief justice – or the far right, from the viewpoint of the petitioners.

Chief Justice John Roberts welcomed Gorsuch and wished him a “long and happy career in our common calling.”

The court was hearing oral arguments in three cases, starting with a highly technical labor dispute pitting a US Census Bureau worker against the Merit Systems Protection Board. Gorsuch waited only seven minutes before asking his first question, and following four of his more senior colleagues, according to a correspondent for McClatchy.

“Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if we followed the plain text of the statute? What am I missing?” Gorsuch asked government lawyer Brian Fletcher at one point. When Fletcher offered to explain reasons for his interpretation, Gorsuch interrupted.

“Not reasons. Where in the language?” he said, referring to the actual statute.

At this point, Justice Samuel Alito stole the show, lamenting that the statute itself was so obtuse that only a lawyer might possibly be able to understand it.

“Who wrote this statute? Someone who takes pleasure in taking the wings off flies?” Alito asked, to laughter from the gallery.