Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is said to be choosing from among three judges as he prepares to announce his choice next week to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
A person familiar with the selection process identifies the judges -- all white males -- as William Pryor, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman. The three sit on federal appeals courts. And they were on the list of 21 potential high court picks announced by Trump during the presidential campaign. All three were nominated by President George W. Bush for their current posts.
Trump has promised to seek someone in the mold of conservative icon Antonin Scalia, who died nearly a year ago after serving on the Supreme Court for more than 29 years. Senate Republicans prevented President Barack Obama from filling the seat, a political gamble that paid off when Trump was elected.
%@AP Links
182-a-09-(President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters as he signed executive actions in the Oval Office)-"sometime next week"-President Donald Trump says he's ready to move ahead with naming a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. (24 Jan 2017)
<<CUT *182 (01/24/17)££ 00:09 "sometime next week"
APPHOTO WX107: This photo provided by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals shows Judge Neil Gorsuch. President Donald Trump has narrowed his choice to fill the Supreme Court vacancy to three judges and said he expects to make his decision in the coming days. The leading contenders, who all have met with Trump, are Gorsuch, William Pryor and Thomas Hardiman, the person said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to speak publicly about internal decisions. (10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals via AP) (24 Jan 2017)
<<APPHOTO WX107 (01/24/17)££
APPHOTO WX105: FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2016 file photo, Judge William Pryor, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit speaks in Washington. President Donald Trump has narrowed his choice to fill the Supreme Court vacancy to three judges and said he expects to make his decision in the coming days. The leading contenders, who all have met with Trump, are William Pryor, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman, the person said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to speak publicly about internal decisions. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File) (17 Nov 2016)
<<APPHOTO WX105 (11/17/16)££
APPHOTO WX106: In this photo taken Nov. 17, 2016, Judge Thomas Hardiman, federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is seen in Washington. President Donald Trump has narrowed his choice to fill the Supreme Court vacancy to three judges and said he expects to make his decision in the coming days. The leading contenders, who all have met with Trump, are Hardiman, William Pryor and Neil Gorsuch, the person said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to speak publicly about internal decisions. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (17 Nov 2016)
<<APPHOTO WX106 (11/17/16)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
