Trump: Next SCOTUS pick will come from the same list released during campaign

By now, you're no doubt aware of the rumors regarding the impending retirement of an unnamed Supreme Court Justice. No one really knows who's planning to step down but, since the rumors are all coming from Republicans, the smart money is on Anthony Kennedy. As we've discussed before, that means President Trump will get another chance to nominate a replacement, thus driving Democrats into a rerun of their recent hate-fueled frenzy. What everyone wondered was: Will Trump's famous list - the one he revealed during the 2016 campaign - still be the source from which he draws his next nominee?

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The answer, according as the Washington Times reports, is an unequivocal "yes."

“It’s a great list. From the moment I put that list out, it solved that problem. And I was proud to say it was my idea,” he said. Mr. Trump said he has heard rumors that one of the justices will retire when the current court session ends in June but that he doesn’t have any inside knowledge. “I don’t know. I have a lot of respect for Justice Kennedy, but I just don’t know,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the senior member of the bench, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. “I don’t like talking about it. I’ve heard the same rumors that a lot of people have heard. And I have a lot of respect for that gentleman, a lot.” Mr. Trump said conservative voters should be assured that his next choice will be “really talented and of our views.” Asked specifically whether he would pick from the list of candidates he put forward in the campaign, Mr. Trump was unequivocal: “Yes,” he said, adding, “That list was a big thing.” Note that the President name checks Kennedy there...

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If you'd like a refresher, here is the complete list of 21 judges that Trump released back in September of last year:

1. Keith Blackwell
2. Charles Canady
3. Steven Colloton
4. Allison Eid
5. Neil Gorsuch
6. Raymond Gruender
7. Thomas Hardiman
8. Raymond Kethledge
9. Joan Larsen
10. Mike Lee
11. Thomas Lee
12. Edward Mansfield
13. Federico Moreno
14. William Pryor
15. Margaret A. Ryan
16. Amul Thapar
17. Timothy Tymkovich
18. David Stras
19. Diane Sykes
20. Don Willett
21. Robert Young

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