ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — Could President Donald Trump nominate a woman from Michigan to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the U.S Supreme Court? We have learned he is considering University of Michigan professor and Judge Joan Larsen.
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President Trump told FOX and Friends he may nominate “a great one from Michigan” to the U.S. Supreme Court. He didn’t name her but said she is on a list of five people he is considering.
“We are looking for someone who is brilliant, really understands the law and abides by the constitution. A good person,” he said during the interview on FOX and Friends.
White House sources tell 7 Action News he was referring to Judge Larsen. She served two years on the Michigan Supreme Court and three years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Court. She is described by some as a "self-styled" conservative, who clerked for Justice Scalia.
“In terms of academic and legal qualifications she certainly is well qualified,” said Professor Robert Sedler, who teaches Constitutional Law at the Wayne State University Law School.
"She was somebody at the University of Michigan Law School when I attended the university here. She was the clerkship coordinator here. I have nothing but the best to say about her personally,” said Eli Savit, who is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and also is running unopposed to be the next Washtenaw County Prosecutor.
These professors, who also were close to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have respect for Judge Larsen. They also are focused on remembering Justice Ginsburg’s life.
Wayne State University Law School Professor Robert Sedler worked with Justice Ginsburg at the Kentucky ACLU. When he discussed his cases with her he witnessed the passion she had for gender equality.
“One of the cases I litigated involved learner’s permits for driving. Kentucky law required dad sign the permit. They didn’t trust mom to do it,” he recalled, to describe the kind of cases they worked on. “She was just a warm human being believing so much in equality for everyone.”
University of Michigan Professor Eli Savit remembers Justice Ginsburg’s sense of humor. He was a clerk for her and, at the end of their clerkships, it is tradition clerks do a humorous skit. He played his boss. She told him she had a problem with his performance.
“She laughed during the skit, but afterward she asked me to come talk to her. She said we need to talk about your portrayal of me. I was kind of nervous,” Savit said.
She then told him the costume, featuring a lace jabot or judicial collar he made, was ugly.
“She has these brilliant metal jabots and jabots that she wears when she is announcing the dissenting opinion of the bench and one she wears when she is announcing the majority opinion of the court. She has a stylish and fierce collection of jabots that I didn't live up to,” he said.
Professor Savit said he would like to see Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish that the president who is elected in November choose her replacement.
President Donald Trump said he will make an announcement as to who he is nominating as soon as this Friday or Saturday.
