Kevin Daley on June 28, 2018
The Trump administration will move rapidly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement.
The time horizon the administration imagines would ensure the new justice is in place for the Court’s next term.
Politico reports that the White House hopes to announce the nominee by July 10, in advance of President Donald Trump’s trip to Europe. The president will attend a NATO meeting in Brussels, visit the United Kingdom for a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May, then travel to Finland for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Interviews with prospective nominees will begin next week.
A compressed timeline may also be necessary given the slew of appropriations bills Congress must adopt by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
An early July pick would clear the way for a late August confirmation hearing and a final vote in September. If the nomination proceeds at a normal clip, the new justice will be installed for the high court’s next term, which begins on the first Monday of October.
The early favorites include Judges Amy Coney Barrett, Amul Thapar, Brett Kavanaugh, and Raymond Kethledge.
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