Trump Releases List of Supreme Court Picks

Recently, Donald Trump released his list of potential Supreme Court justices that he would like to fill the spot of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The list, which was dubbed the “conservative dream team” by CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, is thought to be similar to what Ted Cruz would have released as well.

Six of the potential justices on the list were appointed to federal appeals courts by George W. Bush, while the other five have experience on state supreme courts.

The court is now balanced between the left and the right, so any judge that fills Scalia’s spot will tip the balance in one direction or the other. Each of the 11 on Trump’s list are part of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group.

Although presidential nominees usually do not release names of potential justices, Trump is making an effort to convince voters that he will not choose a liberal justice if elected.

Here’s a look at who made Trump’s list:

Steven Colloton

Colloton, from Iowa, is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and has been since 2003, when he was appointed by George W. Bush. Before that, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and a law lecturer at the University of Iowa. 

Allison Eid

Eid is currently an associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, where she was appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Owens in 2006. She previously held the position of solicitor general in Colorado and was also a law professor at the University of Colorado.

Raymond Gruender

Gruender has been a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit since 2004 when he was appointed by George W. Bush. He has ample prosecutorial experience from his time as District Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Thomas Hardiman

Hardiman has served as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit since 2007. Before that, he was a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Raymond Kethledge

Since 2008, Kethledge has been a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Prior to that, Kethledge served as a judicial counsel to Michigan Senator Spencer Abraham and also worked at Ford Motor Company.

Joan Larsen

Larsen is an Associate Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Prior to this, she was a professor at the University of Michigan School of Law and an Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Thomas Lee

Lee has been an Associate Justice of the Utah Supreme Court since 2010, but prior to that, he was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

William Pryor

Pryor is currently a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Prot to this, he was the Alabama Attorney General.

David Stras

Stras has served as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court since 2010. Before this, he was a legal academic at the University of Minnesota Law School and wrote a great deal about the structure of the judiciary system.

Diane Sykes

Sykes has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2004. Before this, she was a Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a Wisconsin trial court judge.

Don Willett

Since 2005, Willett has served as a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Prior to this, he was a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and an advisor to former President, George W. Bush.