"We must pick a big one": Inside Trump's plan for a new Supreme Court justice



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President Trump attempts to execute the same scenario by selecting a new Supreme Court candidate who confirmed Judge Neil M. Gorsuch last year, following a methodical course in hope to avoid the disorder that so often invades his White House. As Trump seeks to reorient the nation's high court by replacing incumbent judge Anthony M. Kennedy, he has left little room for improvisation – in part because he has delegated and subcontracted a large part of the work of spades.

Gorsuch as a model, the president said that his next candidate will be chosen from a shortlist of 25 candidates, most of them already fixtures on federal courts that have made the Purpose of public and internal controls.

Half a dozen finalists start, including private sit-ins with Trump starting this weekend at his golf course in Bedminster, NJ, as well as sessions with Donald White House lawyers McGahn and official FBI background checks. An announcement date has also been set: July 9, the first Monday after the holidays of July 4 and the day before Trump travels to Brussels for a European trip of one week.

With only four months until the mid-term elections Senate gains would jeopardize a Trump candidate, the White House is working with Republican leaders of the Senate to set a quick deadline for voting. a candidate by October so that they can enjoy the slim majority of the GOP in the House. Trump and White House leaders are already exerting personal pressure on key senators, working to plow the ground in anticipation of what should be a fierce battle for nominations

Trump says he understands the stakes

"In Outside of war and peace, of course, the most important decision you make is the selection of a Supreme Court judge, "the president told reporters on Friday.

In most other areas, Trump quickly rejects standards and resists the established order. Where previous presidents have zigued, the 45th almost always wants to zag. But not when it comes to the Supreme Court. Up to now, at least, Trump is leading his advisers, two of whom have deep roots in the Washington Conservative network: McGahn and Leonard Leo, who is on leave from the Federalist Society to give informal advice on judicial appointments

. Trump has developed strategies with McGahn, Leo and others to fill vacancies in federal courts in order to permanently move the judiciary to the right. The pace has been historic – and for the Conservatives the result has been an undeniable success.

"This president had a vision," Leo said. "He did something entrepreneurial and different.He had a very clear sense of what he wanted, he spent a lot of time asking questions about [the late] Justice [Antonin] Scalia and Justice [Clarence] Thomas and other members of the court, and he got to know Judge Kennedy bit.I was really impressed by the way he directed this process.He is in control of this- "

Trump told councilors that he is looking for three general attributes in lieu of Kennedy. First, a councilor said, Trump insists on an "extraordinarily well qualified" candidate with a superlative resume. The president is particularly attracted to candidates with brand-name degrees, such as Ivy League universities such as Harvard or Yale. He also wants to see a solid academic writing portfolio, although this advisor has acknowledged that Trump does not care to read it; he just wants to know that he exists.

Second, Trump said that it is essential that his candidate is not "weak", that is, someone with an independent judgment and the courage of "fashion political and social issues of the time ".

Third, Trump privately says that he wants a candidate who "will interpret the Constitution as the editors wanted it," according to the counselor, who spoke on condition of anonymity to recount a private discussion with the president

And as he does with all candidates for a job, Trump will also be looking for personal chemistry products, central casting looks and storytelling stories. Last year, Trump was attracted to Thomas Hardiman, Gorsuch's finalist at the court contest, in part because of his working-class roots. Hardiman was the first in his family to graduate from college, helped pay for his education by driving a taxi and is now a judge at the Federal Court of Appeal in Pittsburgh, a Pennsylvania area where Trump has a strong political influence

believed to be a competitor this time too. It is said that Trump's shortlist likely includes US judge Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana; US circuit judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of Maryland, a former Kennedy law clerk; Michigan circuit judge Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, finalist last year; Last Wednesday night in Fargo, North Dakota, just hours after Kennedy 's departure, Trump told a large crowd at a rally that he was "honored" to have had it. opportunity to choose his replacement and talked about his criteria.

"We have a choice to make," said Trump "We have to pick a big one, we have to pick one that will be there for 40, 45. We need intellect. So much to do.You know, there are so many elements that go into the makeup of a grand judge of the Supreme Court.You have to hit each of them. "[19659016AlthoughheandhiscollaboratorswerehopingKennedycouldretirethissummerattheendofthecourt'stenure-andfoundwaystosubtlyencouragehimtodoso-the81-year-oldannouncementofjusticehasbeenasurprise

On the morning of his announcement, Trump was on the phone with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) And asked him if he thought Kennedy would pull out. McConnell responded that he would believe it when he would see it – and that he had heard that Kennedy would not retire for years, according to two people familiar with the conversation.

A few hours later, Kennedy was at the Trump White House of his decision. The President and McConnell have again spoken, according to two officials informed of the call, and they stressed the importance of the vacancy. Kennedy was the pivotal critical vote, and replacing him with a convinced conservative would solidify the majority of the right to the high court.

Josh Holmes, a close McConnell advisor, said that it is "almost impossible to exaggerate the size of an agreement [the Kennedy vacancy is] for the conservatives as a whole, but obviously very specifically for the Trump administration, I think that if you are right, there is absolutely nothing to criticize about the way this administration has dealt with appointments to the judicial branch. "

Carrie Severino, Attorney Chief and Policy Director of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, said: "This is really a second opportunity for him to achieve one of his most important election promises."

Democrat leaders say that the Senate is expected to wait until after the mid-term elections for the new Senate to consider the candidate in early 2019. They said a delay would be in line with McConnell's precedent in 2016, when he pushed back the polls. ; exa men of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's candidate for the seat of Scalia, until the presidential election. Trump won, of course, and quickly named Gorsuch, who was confirmed in April 2017 by a vote of 54 to 45.

The Republican plan is that Trump's candidate spends the second half of July and the beginning of On the Capitol and preparing for confirmation hearings, which could begin in late August, with committee votes in early September and a ground vote later this month so the judge can lend oath on October 1st.

There is a belief that this should not drag on, "said Marc Short, Director of Legislative Affairs for the White House. "The process on our part should proceed fairly quickly because the President has had time to look at the same list since he 's broadcast it during the campaign. opportunity to get to know many of these candidates in the last battle of nomination. "

The White House's outreach campaign to other senators began almost immediately, Thursday night when Trump returned from Dakota. North and Wisconsin, half a dozen senators who influenced the fate of Trump's candidate met Trump

Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will oversee the confirmation hearings – and Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Joe Manchin III (Virginia) and Joe Donnelly (Ind.) – a trio of Democrats who supported Gorsuch – met Trump one-on-one.The President also met with Susan Collins ( Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), two Republicans who support the rights to abortion.

In the private session of Manchin with Trump, the president asked the senator for a contribution on the type of justice he should appoint. Manchin recommended a centrist jurist who would respect the rule of law and the Constitution, the senator recalled.

"The discussion did not unfold:" Would you agree with anyone? Said Manchin. Hoppy Kercheval, radio host in Virginia. "He knows me better than that."

White House officials also called at least a dozen senators who will play key roles in the confirmation battle – a list that includes members of the Judiciary Committee, persuaded senators and Republicans. leadership, according to a senior White House official. In addition, officials discussed the vacancy with Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), the only legislator on Trump's list of 25 potential choices, according to a spokesman for the senator.

Missing from the list of appeals so far, according to the assistants: Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.), member of the Senate minority, and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), The best Democrat in the Judiciary Committee

"Everyone has recently done the exercise, so the muscle memory the confirmation process is very tight right now, and especially on the Hill, the McConnell leader showing that it's all right. he knows how to do it and that he is already ready to start, "said Jason Miller, a former Trump campaign advisor

.Trump, a former reality TV producer and star, loves to create Suspense around his presidential decisions and watch the media cover the drama.On the Air Force One on Friday, he told reporters that he had seen Lee complaining about his appointment to the Supreme Court. [19659032] "I saw him on TV last night where he said that he likes would not say that. "

Trump quickly complimented Lee:" Very good guy, very talented, very smart. "But he unveiled the Utahan as his candidate on July 9, the president kept everyone guessing.

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