Trump lists 11 possible U.S. Supreme Court successors to Scalia

By Greg Stohr

May 18, 2016 at 11:25 AM

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(Bloomberg) – Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump released Wednesday a list of 11 potential nominees to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia's death.

The list includes Judge William Pryor of Alabama, whose nomination by President George W. Bush to a federal appeals court sparked a bitter partisan battle before his confirmation in 2005.

All of those on Trump's list are judges, six on federal appeals courts and five on state supreme courts.

Also named are Steven Colloton of Iowa, Allison Eid of Colorado, Raymond Gruender of Missouri, Thomas Hardiman of Pennsylvania, Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, Joan Larsen of Michigan, Thomas Lee of Utah, David Stras of Minnesota, Diane Sykes of Wisconsin and Don Willett of Texas.

Scalia's seat has been vacant since his Feb. 13 death. Senate Republican leaders have refused to consider President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland. They say the next president should fill the seat, and Trump's list is intended to soothe conservatives who have been leery about what kind of judges the billionaire would pick.

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