President Trump told reporters that he had shortlisted three candidates for the Supreme Court Justice to replace the seat which was vacant after judge Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016. He will announce his candidate next week.
The President told about his decision before meeting with the Senate leaders on Tuesday afternoon Jan. 24 at the White House to the reporter according to USA Today.
He invited senate leaders to the White House to discuss the vacant position in U.S. Supreme Court. They are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. Along with them, leader Chuck Schumer and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein were also invited.
President Trump said, "We have a number of outstanding candidates. We will announce it sometime next week."
Senate Majority Leader McConnell appreciated President’s initiative to discuss the matter with the Senate before making decision. Moreover, the appointment of Supreme Court justice requires Senate confirmation. During Obama administration, the appointment of judge Merrick Garland was rejected by the Senate.
Regarding the candidate, according to Reuters, President Trump has narrowed down the candidate to three judges, Neil Gorsuch, William Pryor Jr. and Thomas Hardiman. Judge Gorsuch currently serves on the U.S. 10th Circuit Court in Denver, Judge Prior serves in Atlanta for the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. While judge Hardiman is based in Pennsylvania, serves on the 3rd Circuit Court.
The appointed judge will serve a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States. The judge will take place the vacant position left by deceased judge Scalia who passed away on Feb.13 last year. Currently the 9-member panel of judges on the U.S. Supreme Court are led by Chief Justice John Roberts, with member judges Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Brayer, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.
Watch the report from Associated Press, regarding president Trump candidate for Supreme Court judge below:
