Trump expected to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court

President Trump is expected to select Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Justice Ruth Ginsburg, sources told Just the News on Friday evening. 

The president is scheduled to make his official announcement Saturday from the White House.

Barrett, a judge on the Chicago-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, emerged as a frontrunner soon after the announcement last week that Ginsburg has died from cancer.

The president has waited for Ginsburg's official memorial services to conclude this week in the nation's capital before making an announcement. But the official naming of Barrett, 48, would begin a fast-paced, politically-charged Senate confirmation process just week away from the Nov. 3 presidential elections.

The GOP-controlled Senate appears to have enough votes to get Barrett through the Judiciary Committee's vetting process and confirmed to the high court in a final floor vote.

However, Democrats on and off Capitol Hill are strongly opposed to Trump appointing a justice with the election just roughly 45 days away, arguing the winner of the presidential race should make the pick. 

If confirmed, Barrett would be the youngest justice currently on the bench. She has a strong anti-abortion record from the bench and has indicated her support for abortion restrictions.

Upon the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018, Trump considered Barrett as a potential nominee before ultimately selecting Brett Kavanaugh.