While President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he is still mulling over four judges who could become his Supreme Court justice pick, The New York Times reported that Trump may favor a candidate with ties to his family.
In recent days, Trump has shown a newfound interest in Judge Thomas Hardiman, who was the runner-up last year when Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. According to people close to the selection process who spoke to the Times, Trump has become fixated on Hardiman in recent days and has been asking associates about the judge.
Reportedly moved by Hardiman’s personal story — he was the first in his family to graduate college and drove a taxi to pay his tuition — Trump is also keen on the judge because he served with Trump’s sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia.
Last year, Barry suggested Hardiman would be a good choice for the Supreme Court, according to two people close to Trump who spoke with the Times.
Trump has also spoken highly of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a social conservative who has the support of one of Trump’s closest friends: Fox News’ Sean Hannity. Hannity, along with Rudy Giuliani and others, had lunch with Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey on Sunday, Politico reported.
Trump is expected to have a decision made on his Supreme Court justice nominee by noon Monday and will announce it at 9 p.m. EST Monday.
Read the Times’ full piece on Trump’s SCOTUS nominee decision making process here.
