Donald Trump focused on conservative judges Kavanaugh and Kethledge for US Supreme Court
Trump’s appointee would maintain the slim 5-4 conservative majority on the court – but questions remain about how hardline his pick will be
Conservative federal appeal court judges Brett Kavanaugh and Raymond Kethledge are the two most serious contenders in US President Donald Trump’s shortlist for the vacant US Supreme Court seat, a source familiar with the process said on Thursday.
Kavanaugh is a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Kethledge is a judge on the Cincinnati-based 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
The source told Reuters that Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana, a judge on the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, was still in contention but that the Republican president had been asking more questions about the other two, who have more extensive judicial records.
Trump, who conducted interviews with seven candidates earlier this week for the lifetime post on the top US judicial body, is expected to announce his decision on Monday.
The source said he would not be surprised if Trump firmed up his choice before leaving for a trip to Montana later on Thursday.