New York sources reported that Indian American federal appeals court judge Amul Thapar has emerged as a “serious” contender for a spot in the US Supreme court and has been interviewed for the position by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile according media reports he was one of four judges interviewed for the position on the nation’s highest court by Trump on Monday, according to The Washington Post and other media outlets that quoted unnamed sources who had been briefed about the meetings.
Accordingly Trump’s Spokesperson Sarah Sanders confirmed that he met for 45 minutes with four candidates, but would not identify them. Moreover Trump has said he would announce his pick next Monday. Thapar was appointed by Trump last year to the federal Sixth Circuit Appeals Court based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that covers four states including his home state of Kentucky.
Earlier Thapar has the backing of Mitch McConnell,
the influential Senate Majority Leader from Kentucky, for the Supreme Court
vacancy caused by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy last month. McConnell
said “He thinks he’s absolutely brilliant, with the right temperament”. Further
the Washington Post said Trump’s meeting with Thapar “was described by several
White House aides as both a gesture of respect for the Senate GOP leader and
evidence that he is in serious contention”.
