Trump’s Potential Supreme Court Nominees

As the White House and Senate Republican leadership geared up to force a Supreme Court pick through the nomination process less than a month and a half before the 2020 presidential election, we began investigating the judicial and political figures who appeared on the president’s list of potential nominees.
United States Supreme Court Building

On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from complications from cancer. As Americans mourned her passing, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that he would move forward with filling her seat before Election Day, despite the blatant (if not surprising) hypocrisy of such a decision.

When President Donald Trump announced his intention of nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett, whom he had nominated in 2017 to the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, American Oversight had already filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Justice relating to her nomination to either the 7th Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump’s reported list of potential nominees included federal judges who had been appointed to their current seats by the president, such as Neomi Rao, Britt Grant, and Amul Thapar; far-right politicians like Sens. Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton; and conservative lawyers who previously worked in government, including former solicitor general Noel Francisco.

Updates

News Roundup: Pardons, Partisans and Our Endangered Democracy

June 24, 2022
It’s impossible to overstate the gravity of America’s current political situation.

News Roundup: Pompeo’s Emails and Barrett’s Nomination

October 22, 2020
If there were any hopes that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would, after having been accused of Hatch Act violations this summer, tone down his political activities as the election drew nearer, his recent pledge to release the emails of former Secretary Hillary Clinton has put those expectations to rest.

News Roundup: Restricting the Vote

October 15, 2020
As the election draws nearer, political observers are increasingly turning attention to poll results in states across the country. But of course, poll numbers don’t mean much if ballots aren’t counted — or if people can’t vote in the first place.

Investigations Update: Vote-by-Mail Disinformation Campaigns, Drug Coupons for Seniors, and 2020 Census Interference

October 13, 2020
See the latest in our investigations into outside influence in the judicial nominations process, foreign disinformation campaigns, and Trump administration’s continued meddling with the 2020 census.

Investigations Update: Coronavirus Safety Measures, USAGM Lobbying, and Voting by Mail Alarmism

September 29, 2020
See the latest in our investigations into the White House’s control of Covid-19 information, influence and access at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and Trump’s Supreme Court pick.
Show all updates

Related Documents

February 15, 2021

Florida Supreme Court Communications and Calendars for Former Justice Barbara Lagoa

Florida Supreme Court
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January 11, 2021

State Phone Call Records of Communications Between Pompeo and Senators

Department of State
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November 12, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Communications with Leonard Leo

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
October 9, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Visitor Logs

Department of Justice, DOJ - Justice Management Division
FOIA Request
October 9, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Assistant Attorney General Beth Ann Williams’ Visitor Logs

Department of Justice, DOJ - Justice Management Division
FOIA Request
September 28, 2020

FOIA to DOJ For Communications About Amy Coney Barrett’s Appeals Court Nomination

Department of Justice, DOJ - Office of Information Policy
FOIA Request
September 24, 2020

Complaint: American Oversight v. DOJ – Justice Kennedy Supreme Court Nominee List

Department of Justice
Litigation
September 24, 2020

No Records Response from Georgia Department of Law Regarding Britt Grant’s External Emails

Georgia Attorney General
Agency Reply
September 24, 2020

No Records Response from Georgia Department of Law Regarding Britt Grant’s Calendar Invites

Georgia Attorney General
Agency Reply
September 24, 2020

No Records Response from Georgia Department of Law Regarding Britt Grants Emails with State Attorneys General

Georgia Attorney General
Agency Reply
September 24, 2020

No Records Response from Ga. Department of Law Regarding Britt Grant’s External Emails

Georgia Attorney General
Agency Reply
September 22, 2020

No Records Response from Georgia State Records Center Regarding Britt Grant

Georgia State Records Center
Agency Reply
September 21, 2020

Records Requests to Multiple Agencies Seeking Calendar Invitations for Former Solicitor General Britt Grant

Georgia - State Records Center
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Requests to Multiple Agencies Seeking Former Solicitor General Britt Grant’s Emails with External Parties

Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Request to Multiple Agencies Seeking Former Counsel for Legal Policy Britt Grant’s Emails with External Parties

Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Requests to Multiple Agencies Seeking Former Solicitor General Britt Grant’s Emails with Other State Attorneys General

Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Requests to Multiple Agencies Seeking Former Solicitor General Britt Grant’s Emails with External Parties

Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to HHS for Agency Office of Civil Rights Communications about Potential Supreme Court Nominees

Department of Health and Human Services
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Request to the Fla. Third District Court of Appeal for Email Communications and Calendars of Former Justice Barbara Lagoa

Florida Third District Court of Appeal
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Request to the Fla. Supreme Court for Email Communications and Calendars of Former Justice Barbara Lagoa

Florida Supreme Court
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Requests to Multiple Agencies Seeking Former Counsel for Legal Policy Britt Grant’s Emails with Other State Attorneys General

Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

Records Request to Florida Governor Seeking Gov. DeSantis Communications About Barbara Lagoa

Florida Office of the Governor
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Communications with Kate Todd

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to DOJ for Communications About Barbara Lagoa’s Judicial Nomination

Department of Justice, DOJ - Office of Information Policy
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Resume and Ethics Documents of Barbara Lagoa

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Calendars of Barbara Lagoa

Department of Justice, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
FOIA Request
September 21, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Email Communications of Barbara Lagoa

Department of Justice, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
FOIA Request
August 18, 2020

FOIA to DOJ Seeking U.S. Attorney John Bash’s Emails with Congress

Department of Justice, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
FOIA Request
July 15, 2020

DOE Rick Perry Communications Concerning Don Willett

Department of Energy
Agency Record
June 11, 2020

FOIA to USDA Seeking Copies of Hard Copy Records Shared with Congress Regarding Relocation

Department of Agriculture
FOIA Request
May 26, 2020

FOIA to DOJ for Judicial Nomination Communications

Department of Justice, DOJ - Office of Information Policy
FOIA Request
April 28, 2020

FOIA to OIP for USAO SDNY Communications with Representatives of the Facial Recognition Software Company Clearview AI

Department of Justice, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Office of Information Policy
FOIA Request
April 28, 2020

FOIA to CIA for Communications with Representatives of the Facial Recognition Software Company Clearview AI

Central Intelligence Agency
FOIA Request
April 28, 2020

FOIA to DC MPD for Communications with Representatives of the Facial Recognition Software Company Clearview AI

District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
FOIA Request
February 10, 2020

FOIA to DOD Seeking Communications with Members of Congress Regarding Injuries Sustained in Missile Attack

Department of Defense
FOIA Request
December 20, 2019

No Records Response from DOJ Regarding Influences on Supreme Court Nominations

Department of Justice
Agency Reply
October 24, 2019

NARA Records Regarding Folder Title List for White House Counsel Files Related to Neomi Rao

National Archives and Records Administration
Agency Record
July 25, 2019

DOJ Withheld Records Response Regarding White House Communications with Specific Search Terms

Department of Justice
Agency Reply
June 10, 2019

DOJ Records Regarding Thomas Rex Lee Outside Communications Pertaining to Guantanamo Bay

Department of Justice
Agency Record
May 28, 2019

ED Records Regarding the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools

Department of Education
Agency Record
March 26, 2019

FOIA to NARA Seeking Folder Title List for White House Counsel Files Related to Neomi Rao

National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to NARA Seeking Records Related to Steven Colloton’s Work on the Starr Investigation

National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Joan Larsen’s Work in the Office of Legal Counsel

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to NARA Seeking Records of the White House Counsel’s Office Related to Joan Larsen

National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to OMB Seeking Communications of Neomi Rao

White House - Office of Management and Budget
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking External Communications About Potential Supreme Court Nominees

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to NARA Seeking Records of the White House Counsel’s Office Related to Neomi Rao

National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Neomi Rao’s Work for the Senate Judiciary Committee

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Amul Thapar’s Work as an AUSA

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Amul Thapar’s Work on the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Amul Thapar’s Work as a U.S. Attorney

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOJ Seeking Records Related to Thomas Rex Lee’s Work for the DOJ Civil Division

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to DOE Seeking Communications Between Rick Perry and Don Willett

Department of Energy
FOIA Request
February 22, 2019

FOIA to NARA Seeking Records of the White House Counsel’s Office Related to Don Willett

National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Request
February 21, 2019

FOIA to State Seeking Communications Between Pompeo and Senators

Department of State
FOIA Request
February 21, 2019

FOIA to CIA Seeking Communications Between Pompeo and Senators

Central Intelligence Agency
FOIA Request
December 6, 2018

FOIA to DOI Seeking Congressional Communications Regarding the Endangered Species Act

Department of the Interior
FOIA Request
December 4, 2018

FOIA to Interior Seeking Bernhardt Congressional Communications

Department of the Interior
FOIA Request
November 9, 2018

FOIA to Education Regarding the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools

Department of Education
FOIA Request
April 17, 2018

FOIA to DOJ Seeking White House Communications Involving Specific Search Terms

Department of Justice
FOIA Request
April 7, 2017

FOIA Request to DOJ Noel Francisco Ethics Waivers or Recusal Records

Department of Justice
FOIA Request