Trump says he will announce Supreme Court nominee Tuesday

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump tweeted Monday morning that he would announce his nominee to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s Supreme Court seat on Tuesday night.

“I have made my decision on who I will nominate,” he wrote, encouraging people to tune in Tuesday evening.

Trump had been expected to announce his judicial pick sometime this week. Trump met with top-ranking Senate leaders last week to discuss his impending decision.

Former President Barack Obama had previously selected Judge Merrick Garland to fill Scalia’s seat, but Senate Republicans refused to hold hearings on his nomination before the November election. The high court has had only eight members since Scalia’s unexpected death in February of last year.