Watch President Trump Announce His Supreme Court Nominee Live

Almost 6 in 10 Republicans (58 percent) said at the time it was “very important” their political party got to pick two new justices for lifetime tenures on the Supreme Court.

Hardiman, who sits on the third circuit court of appeals in Philadelphia, has advanced conservative interpretations of the law, particularly in “law and order” cases touching on issues such as sentencing guidelines and the death penalty.

Many of Trump’s actions will likely end up before federal judges, who are an important line of defense against violations of our civil liberties. On Sunday afternoon, ABC’s Jonathan Karl reported that the White House was considering announcing Trump’s Supreme Court nominee as soon as Monday.

Trump said at a breakfast for small business leaders that his nominee is someone “unbelievably highly respected”.

Scalia was famously conservative and on the campaign trail Trump promised he would name a justice who would adhere just as vehemently to the US Constitution. He lives in Colorado where he has served on the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006.

Whoever the nominee, Republicans might not face as staunch a confirmation process in the Senate as perhaps expected. That action had little precedent in US history. This move maintained the vacancy on the court – leaving a space open for Trump to make his pick.

Hardiman, 51, began his legal career after receiving his law degree from Georgetown University in 1990.

Gorsuch is one of two remaining candidates for the seat, along with 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge Thomas Hardiman. While Trump has pledged to only place pro-life justices in place, what does that, exactly, mean for Americans who have hard decisions to make about their reproductive health?

Advocacy groups geared up for a fight.

“McConnell has never filibustered a Supreme Court nominee”, Stewart said.

“B$3 ecause I am pro-life, and I will be appointing pro-life judges, I would think that that will go back to the individual states”, Trump said during a presidential debate.

Judges, he said, “should do none of these things in a democratic society”.

The primetime slot also speaks to Trump’s fascination with television and ratings.

Some Democrats have threatened to pursue a procedural hurdle called a filibuster, meaning 60 votes would be needed in the 100-seat Senate unless its long-standing rules are changed.

Republicans, however, announced that they would oppose any nominee Obama put forward, regardless of qualifications, because they wanted to wait for the next president to take office and choose the person.