Trump picks conservative Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court

"As a fair legal mind, defender of the Constitution, and a judge on the D.C. Circuit, Brett Kavanaugh is prepared for a seat on the Supreme Court", Byrne posted on Facebook and Twitter. A favorite of the Republican legal establishment in Washington, Kavanaugh, 53, is a former law clerk for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. The ad is expected to feature an introductory bio on the president's yet-to-be-named Supreme Court nominee. The American Family Association has already expressed its opposition to Kavanaugh, calling on the Senate to reject him. They believe Kavanaugh is not sufficiently conservative and disagree with portions of opinions he has written relating to abortion and the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The White House plans a robust promotional campaign on Kavanaugh's behalf.

"My judicial philosophy is straightforward", he said. "Judge Kavanaugh clearly understands the proper role of a judge is to interpret the law as it is written and apply the law impartially. A judge must interpret statutes as written and a judge must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent".

But there may be more to Trump's choice than just support for Kavanaugh's alleged judicial independence.

Kavanaugh, whose wife and two daughters were with him Monday night, said he was "deeply humbled" by the nomination.

Kennedy's retirement paves the way for Trump's second Supreme Court appointment. A majority of 51 votes is needed for a confirmation.

"I think that Donald Trump said he was going to energize the base with this pick".

"Tomorrow I begin meeting with members of the Senate", he said. Feinstein is the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

The introduction to the statement read "In response to Donald Trump's nomination of XX to the Supreme Court of the United States". Thomas, at 70, is the oldest of the court's remaining Republican appointees. "The most important thing we can do".

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said they will hold a confirmation vote this fall.

The president has also been wooing red-state Democrats as a kind of insurance policy. The justices who remain on the court include three who have backed broad abortion restrictions and a fourth, Gorsuch, who in all likelihood would. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of IN and Heidi Heitkamp North Dakota. Democratic senators running for re-election in states Trump carried in 2016 will face pressure to back his nominee.

Trump also met with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of ME and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, to oppose any nominee who threatens Roe v. Wade. "He swung to the other side on the question of gay rights and abortion, and those are the particular issues that concern those on the left".

Recently, he said he wouldn't ask any potential nominees about Roe during interviews.

The nomination, if confirmed by the Senate, would represent one of the most consequential decisions of Trump's presidency. But with only 49 votes in the Senate, Democrats have few tools to work with. But McConnell said senators should give him "the fairness, respect, and seriousness that a Supreme Court nomination ought to command". Like Trump's first nominee previous year, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Kavanaugh would be a young addition who could help remake the court for decades to come with rulings that could restrict abortion, expand gun rights and roll back key parts of Obamacare.

Prior to his time as a judge he oversaw an investigation into the death of a deputy counsel for President Bill Clinton.

Senate Republicans' stonewalling strategy extended to lower courts as well.

Brett Kavanaugh is a strong pick for the Supreme Court.