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[studyguy]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...trump-mitch-mcconnell-supreme-court/96988374/

From an initial list of 21 potential nominees, Trump appears to be looking seriously at these three federal appeals court judges:

• Neil Gorsuch, Colorado, 10th Circuit: At 49 the youngest of the group, Gorsuch is the most natural replacement among them for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He is a strict adherent of "originalism," Scalia’s belief that the Constitution should be interpreted based on the intent of the Founders. He also is a distinctive writer, as Scalia was.

Gorsuch has the type of academic credentials common to high court justices: Columbia, Harvard Law, even Oxford. He clerked for Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy, then practiced law in Washington and did a stint at the Justice Department.

• William Pryor, Alabama, 11th Circuit: He’s been the conservatives’ justice-in-waiting for years, and at 54, the former Alabama attorney general comes straight out of central casting. Likely in his corner: U.S. attorney general-designate Jeff Sessions, who preceded Pryor as Alabama’s top law enforcement official.

But Pryor is controversial: He once criticized the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, as “the worst abomination of constitutional law in our history.”

• Thomas Hardiman, Pennsylvania, 3rd Circuit: A dark horse among the finalists, Hardiman, 51, isn’t unfamiliar to Trump. He sits on the same U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit as the president’s sister, Maryanne Trump Barry.

Hardiman’s career as a judge is one of law and order. He has maintained a solidly conservative record on issues involving guns, searches, police officers and prison guards – more so than Scalia, who often sided with criminal defendants against overzealous prosecutors. In that sense, Hardiman is much like Justice Samuel Alito, who came from the same appeals court.

Just a reminder that SCOTUS appointment is for life and that we have 3 sitting justices at or around 80 years old that may have to retire within the next term or so.

Current Bench:

Anthony Kennedy 
Age: 80 yr 6 mo - Ronald Reagan

Clarence Thomas 
Age: 68 yr 7 mo - George H. W. Bush 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
Age: 83 yr 10 mo - Bill Clinton 

Stephen Breyer
Age: 78 yr 5 mo - Bill Clinton 

John G. Roberts 
Age: 61 yr 11 mo - George W. Bush 

Samuel A. Alito, Jr. 
Age: 66 yr 9 mo - George W. Bush 

Sonia Sotomayor 
Age: 62 yr 6 mo - Barack Obama 

Elena Kagan 
Age: 56 yr 8 mo - Barack Obama

 

[liquidtmd]

It's probably going to be Victor Von Doom at this point

 

[Cels]

It's probably going to be Victor Von Doom at this point

"In Latveria we have no lawyers. Only corpses."

 

[Barzul]

So who's the best out of the 3?

 

[DreamMachine]

sounds like it it will be William Pryor, Alabama

 

[crowphoenix]

It's going to be Pryor, isn't it?

 

[cpp_is_king]

Trump is going to surprise everyone and nominate Garland.

(Just kidding, although I actually wish he would)

 

[darkwing]

it will be Pryor

 

[rjinaz]

sounds like it it will be William Pryor, Alabama

But Pryor is controversial: He once criticized the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, as “the worst abomination of constitutional law in our history.”

Sounds about right. It will be him.

 

[benicillin]

It doesn't matter who the republicans pick the Dems are going to filibuster it until the GOP picks someone who isn't godawful (which isn't going to happen) or the republicans remove the filibuster (which will, provided the United States is still around and still a democracy in a decade, which is unlikely right now) bite them in the ass.

It can't get any worse than Scalia, just have to hope no one else retires or dies.

 

[Guevara]

I hope you all are ready for some law and order.

 

[boiled goose]

So:

Scalia 2
Alito 2
Scalia +

We're so fucked

 

[Permanently A]

Can I suggest an alternative pick?

 

[PantherLotus]

*nominate, not appoint. He doesn't have that power, yet.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Why doesn't he just pick his sister?

 

[rjinaz]

Trump is going to surprise everyone and nominate Garland.

(Just kidding, although I actually wish he would)

There is absolutely 0 chance he picks somebody Obama did. It will have nothing to do with Garland, but just that Obama picked him.

 

[Carpe Carnim]

Now we will find out whether Schumer will play chicken with McConnell over filibusters. I guess if it's gonna get blown up we should know ASAP so we can begin making alternate plans for legislative gridlock.

 

[jstripes]

What? Judge Judy's not in there?

He is a strict adherent of "originalism," Scalia’s belief that the Constitution should be interpreted based on the intent of the Founders.

A strict interpretation of a document written hundreds of years ago? Could we call that Scalia Law?

 

[mreddie]

Who's less evil?

Nevermind, the Alabama one is winning because of course he is.

 

[doctorcdcs]

It's probably going to be Victor Von Doom at this point

I'd take Dr. Doom over Trump as leader any day

 

[UCBooties]

"In Latveria we have no lawyers. Only corpses."

"No one is innocent in Latveria. There are the guilty, and those whose crimes have not yet been discovered."

Or, for a more Russian flavor in honor of the President:

"If you have done nothing wrong, why are you on trial Comrade?"

 

[jchap]

Probably won't be his only appointment

 

[methane47]

Such a mess that Obama never got his pick through...... I hope dems put a stop to this

 

[Kusagari]

Any Democrat that votes for these guys should be blacklisted(I know Manchin will).

Force them to nuke the filibuster if they want these guys on the court.

 

[Linkark07]

Any chance Dems can play the same game GOP did with Garland and keep the seat open until next elections?

 

[adj_noun]

I think Trump will choose a moderate voice as an olive branch to those who opposed him in this contentious election and to further foster the unity and healing this country needs.

*snicker*

 

[Debirudog]

Doom...has some good points.

 

[rjinaz]

I'd take Dr. Doom over Trump as leader any day

At least he wouldn't be Putin's puppet.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Any chance Dems can play the same game GOP did with Garland and keep the seat open until next elections?

no

 

[GitarooMan]

Any Democrat that votes for these guys should be blacklisted(I know Manchin will).

Force them to nuke the filibuster if they want these guys on the court.

Manchin is basically a Republican at this point, embarrassing full desperation mode to keep his seat.

 

[Toxi]

Another reason to hate anyone who didn't vote for Clinton when they could have.

I imagine this is what it feels like when you learn you'll have to pass a kidney stone.

 

[Peltz]

Such a mess that Obama never got his pick through.

Yep, this was disgraceful partisan bullshit.

 

[darkwing]

I think America has just to accept the SCOTUS will be conservative for a decade or so

 

[Mister Zimbu]

Frankly with the allegation that there's 10 million illegal votes out there, I think it's best for America to hold off on appointing another justice until the next presidential election.

I just don't think it's the right time.

 

[SomewhatGroovy]

I'll be honest, I'm for anyone here who can put a stop to the "corporations are people too!" bullshit.

 

[Dr. Malik]

But Pryor is controversial: He once criticized the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, as “the worst abomination of constitutional law in our history.”

this is the one

 

[FaustsBoon]

I'd take Dr. Doom over Trump as leader any day

Ditto. At least Doom tempers his hubris with genuinely taking care of his citizenry.

 

[Toxi]

I'll be honest, I'm for anyone here who can put a stop to the "corporations are people too!" bullshit.

So none of these? LOL

Our chance for any change to Citizens United was November 8th, 2016.

 

[Lostconfused]

Or, for a more Russian flavor in honor of the President:

"If you have done nothing wrong, why are you on trial Comrade?"

Trials are pretty progressive you know.

 

[Elandyll]

Maryanne Trump.

Obviously.

 

[Jhriad]

I think America has just to accept the SCOTUS will be conservative for a couple decades or so

Fixed that for ya.

 

[Ahasverus]

This is undoubtedly the WORST part of a Trump presidency. The SC will be fucked for decades.

 

[SerAardvark]

Manchin is basically a Republican at this point, embarrassing full desperation mode to keep his seat.

I don't like Manchin, but he's probably about as good as you can reasonably hope for from West Virginia, and it's better to get someone who'll sometimes support Democratic efforts than have a Republican in his seat (barring the Democrats having a large enough majority to not need him at all)

As for the position, I wonder if they'll bypass Pryor to avoid the headache and go with someone like Gorsuch instead. He's big on the "religious liberty" BS, which is fun...

 

[Operations]

Dems won't filibuster shit. GOP has firm control over the Judiciary Committee and the Senate.

 

[HStallion]

I think Trump will choose a moderate voice as an olive branch to those who opposed him in this contentious election and to further foster the unity and healing this country needs.

*snicker*

So he won't go with resurrected Hitler and stick with Charles Manson.

 

[CornBurrito]

sounds like it it will be William Pryor, Alabama

Isn't Pryor the dude who said that the government should absolutely be able to stop gays from having sex in the privacy of their own homes?

 

[NH Apache]

So who's the best out of the 3?

Gorsuch, it sounds like. Even Scalia was sane sometimes. The rest look like outliers.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

It will be Pryor and the GOP will try to get Roe V Wade overturned.

 

[Toxi]

Fixed that for ya.

In 20 years, I'm gonna still find new reasons to be mad at people who voted for Trump.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

It's probably going to be Victor Von Doom at this point

I'm not a comic fan but that guy is a least intelligent right?