Barrett emerges as court favorite; Trump to pick by weekend

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump met Monday with Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House as the conservative jurist emerged as a favorite to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, the start of a monumental Senate confirmation fight over objections from Democrats it's too close to the November election.

Trump said he expects to announce his pick by week's end, before the burial of Ginsburg, the court's liberal icon, at Arlington National Cemetery.

The president told reporters he was still going to be interviewing other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week. But Barrett has long been favored by conservatives, and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns by some that she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist.

https://www.startribune.com/pressure-mounts-on-gop-senators-over-filling-ginsburg-seat/572474111/