NOMINATIONS/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump has decided on who he will pick for a lifetime position on the U.S. Supreme Court and will announce the nomination later on Monday [7-9-18], with four conservative federal appellate judges as the top contenders to succeed retiring long-time Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Republican president, with an opportunity to further put his stamp on the court with the second appointee of his 18 months in office, is expected to choose among four judges with strong conservative credentials: Thomas Hardiman, Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge and Amy Coney Barrett. A source familiar with the process said Trump has made his choice. All are young enough that they could serve on the nine-member high court for decades. Trump is poised to make his announcement at 9 p.m. ET.”
–Lawrence Hurley, “Trump decides on Supreme Court pick, announcement to come,” Reuters, July 9, 2018 9:34 am