President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday announced that if another vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court occurs during his presidency, he will choose a nominee from names already announced to the public.
Trump released a shortlist for the Supreme Court previously when he was a candidate in 2016 and then added five more names during the first year of his presidency. The president on Wednesday said these potential nominees continue to be options.
He also announced 20 additional names on top of those longstanding potential nominees.
From Alabama, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Chief Judge Bill Pryor was on the original shortlist; fellow U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Judge Kevin Newsom was added to that shortlist in 2017. Both Alabamians apparently remain potential selections moving forward.
“Like those distinguished individuals, the 20 additions I am announcing today would be jurists in the mold of Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito,” Trump said on Wednesday. “Every one of these individuals will ensure equal justice, equal treatment and equal rights for citizens of every race, color, religion and creed. Together, we will defend our righteous heritage and preserve our magnificent American way of life.”
LIVE: President @realDonaldTrump delivers remarks on judicial appointments https://t.co/GbnyS7exD8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 9, 2020
Pryor, 58, is a native of Mobile and served as the 45th attorney general of Alabama from 1997-2004. An appointee of President George W. Bush, Pryor since then has served on the 11th circuit. He became the court’s chief judge in June.
As attorney general, Pryor characterized Roe v. Wade as being among “the worst examples of judicial activism,” also criticizing that ruling as “a constitutional right to murder an unborn child.”
Newsom, a native of Birmingham and alumnus of Samford University, is 47-years-old. He served as solicitor general of Alabama from 2003-2007, having been appointed by Pryor in his role as attorney general at the time. Newsom would then become a partner at the prestigious Birmingham-based law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP. Trump nominated Newsom to the 11th circuit in 2017, and he was quickly confirmed in impressive fashion. He was added to the SCOTUS shortlist shortly after his confirmation.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
