President Trump will announce on Thursday of next week who he wants to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, which has remained vacant for nearly a year.
There are three judges reportedly in the running as Mr. Trump’s top picks for the high court. Those include: 11th U.S. Circuit Court Judge William Pryor, Judge Neil Gorsuch of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Hardiman.
“I will be making my Supreme Court pick on Thursday of next week. Thank you!” Mr. Trump tweeted early Wednesday morning.
Mr. Trump consulted with senators on Tuesday about his pick for the federal bench. The court has remained deadlocked since Scalia passed away last February.
Republicans hope Mr. Trump will fill the seat with a staunch conservative who will defend the Constitution and follow the founders’ constitutional intent.
“With Justice Antonin Scalia’s passing, Republicans cannot err in filling this vacancy,” American Family Association public policy analyst Abraham Hamilton III told The Washington Times. “In many respects, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick(s) will define his presidential legacy, especially considering that his SCOTUS appointees’ tenure will far exceed his own.”
Democrats have suggested they will protest Mr. Trump’s pick if they deem that person to be unfit.
“We want a mainstream nominee because we want what’s right for America,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, stated.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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