To the lawyers or legal experts we have here, say if Obama's appointee is confirmed will he or she be allowed to vote on cases that were arguemented before their confirmation or Scalia's death???
Its totally at the Court's discretion whether or not to rehear some of the cases that were already argued this term.
Edit: I just read this:
http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/02/tie-votes-will-lead-to-reargument-not-affirmance/ Looks like historically the Court has ordered rehearings for close cases in such circumstances rather than letting the case go 4-4.
