Above the Law’s David Lat reports that President-elect Trump met with Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Pryor Saturday in New York City.
Pyror is on Trump’s list of 21 potential Supreme Court candidates and is widely considered to be a front-runner to fill the vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia’s death last year. Trump named Pryor as a “fantastic” potential replacement for Scalia during the February 13, 2016 CBS News Republican primary debate, before he released his list.
During his January 11 news conference, Trump said he would decide who to nominate within two weeks of being sworn in:
We’ve met with numerous candidates. They’re outstanding in every case. They were largely recommended and highly recommended by Federalist Society. Jim DeMint was also very much involved, and his group, which is fantastic, and he’s a fantastic guy. So between Leo and Jim DeMint and some senators and some congresspeople, we have a great group of people. I’ll be making the decision on who we will put up for justice of the United States Supreme Court, a replacement for the great, great Justice Scalia. That will be probably within two weeks of the 20th. So within about two weeks, probably the second week
At SCOTUSblog, Kevin Russell and Charles Davis remind us that Judge Pryor’s to the Eleventh Circuit in 2003 stalled. That was in part because Pryor called Roe v. Wade the “worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.” President George W. Bush appointed Pryor to the appeals court during a congressional recess in 2004, and he was later confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 53-45.
Pryor is also tough on criminals, has supported religious freedom and upheld Indiana’s voter identification law.
I agree with Lat, if nominated Judge Pryor has a solid shot of winning confirmation. Pryor is very Conservative, very smart and a stickler for preparation.
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