Last week I predicted that President Donald Trump would nominate Third Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman over Tenth Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch. Yesterday, Trump picked Gorsuch. Whatever other talents I may have, it appears that reading Trump’s mind isn’t among them.
I feel for Judge Hardiman, who earned heartfelt support from those he’s worked with, regardless of party affiliation, from every phase of his career. The past weeks cannot have been relaxing for the Judge and his family. He came so very close.
But while I’m sad today for Judge Hardiman, I’m glad for the Third Circuit. For now at least, we get to keep him.
Perhaps someone will now retell the story of how then-Third Circuit Judge, the late Arlin Adams, was short-listed three times, and at least once supposedly “came in second,” for a Supreme Court seat (the one that went to Stevens). http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20151223_Arlin_M__Adams__highly_respected_former_federal_judge_in_Philadelphia__dies_at_94.html
I share in the error–thought his background would be more simpatico to the president