According to a CNN report, citing Republican sources, President Donald Trump intends to nominate Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the new Supreme Court justice.
The sources warned there is a possibility Trump could change his mind, but it is expected he will nominate Barrett.
He is scheduled to officially announce his pick on Saturday.
Barrett, and Federal appeals court Judge Barbara Lagoa, was among the top contenders to be Trump’s nominee, as IJR previously reported.
Trump nominated Barrett and Lagoa to their current positions.
Before being appointed by Trump to the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Barrett was a legal scholar at Notre Dame Law School in Indiana.
Barrett holds strong religious conservative views that could prove controversial.
Some abortion-rights groups are worried if Barrett becomes the next Supreme Court justice, she will vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) claimed Senate Republicans have enough votes to confirm a nominee before the upcoming November presidential election, as IJR previously reported.
Several Republicans threw their support behind Trump’s move to fill the vacancy.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced he approves of filling the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who has been critical of Trump in the past, said, “If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she would also not rule out voting on Trump’s nominee.
Democrats are expected to introduce a bill to limit terms of Supreme Court justices. The legislation would limit the tenure to 18 years and allow every president to nominate two justices per four-year term.
Democrats have made it clear they oppose Trump’s efforts to fill Ginsburg’s seat before the election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) claimed Democrats have “arrows in our quiver” to prevent Trump from filling the vacancy.
