President Trump will meet with Senate leaders on Tuesday to talk about his nominee to serve on the Supreme Court — and said he would name his choice next week.
Trump’s nominee will fill the vacancy left following the sudden death of conservative icon Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13 at age 79. The lifetime appointment as a Supreme Court justice requires Senate confirmation.
Tuesday’s meeting will include Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Charles Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee that will consider the high court nominee, according to McConnell.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, will also attend, McConnell said.
Trump got the opportunity to name Scalia’s replacement only because the Republican-led US Senate refused to consider former President Obama’s nominee for the post, appeals court judge Merrick Garland.
Obama nominated Garland on March 16, but Republican senators led by McConnell denied Garland the customary confirmation hearings and vote.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he would be announcing his choice next week.
“We have outstanding candidates and we will pick a truly great Supreme Court justice and I’ll be announcing it sometime next week,” he said.
Trump said on the campaign trail that he would consider Appeals Court Judges William Pryor and Diane Sykes as top contenders.
Sources told CNN that two other jurists Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman.