President Donald Trump’s list of potential candidates to replace the late and great Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being narrowed and his decision is to be made this week.
What We Know:
- President Donald Trump received the news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death after his campaign rally Friday. Following her death, Trump’s administration discussed with Trump about who would be the right candidate to replace RBG.
- White House officials have been preparing to replace her prior to her death and Trump wanted to nominate a female justice to gain more female voters. Some of the candidates that the Trump administration has in mind are federal Judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, federal appeals court Judge Allison Jones Rushing, and Deputy Kate Todd. The concern with Rushing is her young age, 38, and Todd is not viewed as an actual finalist. Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by former White House counsel Don McGahn but Trump pushed for a female.
- Barrett is the popular choice because Trump and other GOP senators are familiar with Barrett. Democrats question her position on abortion because of her Catholic faith, which may drive her views.
- Trump expressed interest in Lagoa, a Cuban-American judge. He isn’t familiar with her and doesn’t know a lot about her but is planning to meet with her sometime in Miami. “She’s excellent,” he said. “She’s Hispanic. She’s a terrific woman from everything I know. I don’t know her. Florida. We love Florida.”
- As for the decision, Trump ignored Ginsburg’s dying wish to be replaced after the 2020 Presidential election. His press secretary announced on Monday that Trump would announce his nominee before Ginsburg’s memorial services on Wednesday and Thursday but moments later, Trump said he would man the announcement on Friday or Saturday to “pay respects”.
After Ginsburg’s death, Trump was cautious to not mention anything about their differences in the past where she called him a “faker” back in 2016 and he said that she should resign.
