The exit of long-time U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has paved the way for Pres. Donald J. Trump to change the complexion of the high court for a generation.
His first selection — conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch — has already had a profound impact. The Colorado originalist has restored the conservative majority that upheld religious rights in the so-called Gay Wedding Cake case, and struck down the stranglehold public sector unions had over government employees.
In less than two years, Pres. Trump’s pick has provided the constitutional insight from the bench one would expect from a jurist far his senior. Justice Gorsuch will now be followed by — presumably — another nominee faithful to the vision of the Founding Fathers.
Despite outcry from Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to delay a selection, Pres. Trump has vowed to move forward and again keep his promise to select a qualified judge from a list he published during the run-up to the 2016 election. These are some strong possibilities.
Thomas Hardiman has History on His Side
The 3rd District U.S. Court of Appeals judge reportedly ran a close second to Neil Gorsuch when the president filled his first vacancy. That would seem to make him the odds-on favorite to get the nod this time around.
The Notre Dame graduate who earned his law degree at Georgetown has held down his current position since 2006. Even then, he was a rising star who was elevated after only three years at a federal judgeship in Pittsburgh. Hardiman has a non-Ivy League pedigree and a consistent decision-making history that appeals to Pres. Trump and the GOP at large.
Widely considered a law and order judge, Hardiman backed prison policies to strip search prisoners regardless of the level of crime. His ruling was upheld at the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision with the conservative wing in the majority. He has also blasted states who violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms and supports law-abiding citizens’ ability to secure conceal carry permits.
If nominated, Americans can expect a particularly hostile response from Democrats and a Senate vote almost entirely along party lines.
Amy Coney Barrett: the Dark Horse Favorite
If anyone is a favorite to outpace Judge Hardiman in this round, it could be Judge Barrett. Her stock appears to be rising on multiple fronts.
Pres. Trump has a long history of favoring strong female leadership, something that goes widely underreported by the mainstream media. As such, he elevated Judge Barret to the 7th District U.S. Court of Appeals in October 2017. She also was a former law clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, whom the president revered. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree from Rhode College and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Barrett is considered a devout, practicing Catholic and her religious background became a source off backlash during hearings by Democrats, most notably Sen. Diane Feinstein. Barrett reportedly pushed back saying, “It’s never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they arise from faith or anywhere else, on the law.”
But there are a few intangibles that point to Judge Barrett getting the nomination. At 46 years old, she could sustain Pres. Trump’s impact on the high court for more than three decades. The Louisiana native also has ties to Vice Pres. Mike Pence’s home state of Indiana.
Brett Kavanaugh would be a Risky Pick
Several media outlets point to Judge Kavanaugh as the odds-on favorite to get the nomination. In several ways, his name appearing on the list of candidates seems unusual at best.
The Pres. George W. Bush appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia shows all the signs of the Ivy League and swamp background many grassroots Trump supporters have grown to distrust. Couple that background and tenure with the fact he clerked for retiring Justice Kennedy and Kavanaugh looks like a recipe for another moderate swing vote.
Pres. Trump favors tough conservative positions on law and order, immigration, religious liberty and leans pro-life. Kavanaugh would likely garner some Democrat support, but he appears to risky.
~ Conservative Zone
Very Well Done Mr. President. God Bless The USA. I Thank God Every Day You Are The President.
God Bless
I love your comments on your post. I am so sick and tired of listening to the Dummycrats and their dreadful statements about our country and our President. They have absolutely nothing to offer to make things better so they continue with evil remarks about the republicans and how much the President has accomplished in 1 1/2 years. I think I can honestly say that I appreciate President Trump more than anyone else because one month before he was elected President, I went into the hospital for a colon cancer operation and my husband brought me a 5×7 picture of Donald Trump to put by my hospital bedside. I will always believe he gave me the strength to fight my cancer. Great news, my surgeon did remove the cancerous tumor and it did not go into my lymph nodes so I did not even need chemotherapy. People can laugh and think that sounds ridiculous, but it is how I feel and I love President Trump for all the fighting he does for us.
My vote is for Barrett !
I just started voting when Clinton and Obama were in primaries, I voted for Clinton because how bad I disliked Obama, left voting place and went to court house and changed to Republican, I was brought up in democratic family, but they no longer believe as I do, I am so proud of Trump and every thing he stands for, our country in best shape I can remember
I think Mr. Hardiman would be the best choice, but I trust President Trump’s nomination will be the best person for the job. Unfortunately, whoever he chooses will have a long hard battle ahead of them. Let’s pray that people do what is best for our country, not for their party or their own personal agenda. I thank God that we have Mr. Trump for our president.
Best wishes for quick selection of a great judge. — (I hope YOU let Assistant Attorney Bernstein know WHO is the final judge of that department — YOU — and go ahead QUICKLY and get – all – the information being demanded. It has taken TOO long.
It is great for President Donald Trump to have so many excellent choices as his nominee to fulfill the retiring seat of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy with another ‘true’ conservative.
From my ‘quick’ study, I would recommend Justice Amul Roger Thapar Justice Amul Roger Thapar, age 49, be elevated from the 6th District Court from Appeals as nominated to SCOTUS.
“Professor Brian Fitzpatrick of Vanderbilt Law School describes Thapar as “very Scalia-like and Thomas-like.””
WE should thank God every day that Donald Trump is our president, and not that Immoral Satan worshiper Hillary Clinton.
And we must continue to pray for him and his family for his safety and for his success, cause if he succeed America suceed.
Well stated, The historic background of HRC is devious and manipulative. Tho Bill had some rare occasions of sound principled judgment to his credit, the bulk of his decisions showed an amoral twist. Decisions that at times bordered on the profane, an unmistakable reflection of the nature of his wife. She has but one God, and that God is HERSELF.
Congratulations – hardly any spelling or grammar errors in the comments. No evidence of “dumbed-down” education here. There’s hope for the USA yet.
Our Great President Mr TRUMP is been attacked by All forces of evil in the camp of the demonRats . But We the Deplorables have the Big gun , “PRAYING” . I am asking to all of You to constantly talk to & pray to GOD the Father & Jesus the Son to protect & guide our President .
Lets do it to MAGA , & vote TRUMP’s type of Republicans everywhere all the time except paul ryan & mitch mcconnell .
mueller is not only corrupt , evil & traitor , he’s a thief , he’s after the money he’s cashing in & will streach it as long as he can .
Mr Sessions why are You NOT doing your job & fire rosenstein & mueller & all the other creepy crooks .
WHAT A SAD SITUATION “WE THE PEOPLE” ARE FACING! WE HAVE THE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT AMERICA TO SUCCEED, AND WE HAVE THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE WORKING TO CAUSE AMERICA TO FAIL, AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIR WISH THAT TRUMP FAILS.
THE REPUBLICANS SAY “DO WHAT YOU WANT”. THE DEMOCRATS SAY “YOU SHOULD ONLY DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO”
THE JEWS AND THE BLACKS APPEAR TO FINALLY REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE SUPPORTING THE WRONG PARTY, AND EVEN MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE LEAVING THAT PARTY.
For the first time, I agree with ALL of the above!
Looks like God gave our President a trump card.