Meet the contenders to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court
by Melissa Quinn
| July 01, 2018 12:00 AM
Justice Anthony Kennedy's announcement that he will retire from the Supreme Court effective July 31 has put all eyes back on President Trump's list of 25 possible nominees to the high court.
The list's origins trace back to the 2016 presidential campaign, when then-candidate Trump released in May 2016 a list of 11 judges he would consider to fill the seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. The list grew to 21 in September 2016, and that expansion included the name of Neil Gorsuch, who would go on to replace Scalia on the high court.
Trump's final addition to his Supreme Court short-list came in November, when he added four more possible nominees to the high court, bringing the total to 25.
The list includes 24 former and current judges on the federal and state courts, in addition to one U.S. senator.
After Kennedy notified Trump of his impending retirement, the president told reporters he would select a successor from that list of 25. Court watchers say there a five favorites to be nominated, with several more under serious consideration.
Meet the judges — and senator —that make up Trump's list.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/meet-the-contenders-to-fill-justice-anthony-kennedys-seat-on-the-supreme-court
