After making a name for himself on the campaign trail for an unpredictability not usually witnessed among presidential hopefuls, there was always very real chance that President-Elect Donald Trump could surprise everyone with his choice of SCOTUS nominee. Speculation that the rogue Republican might be about to ‘do a Trump’ and choose a candidate out of left field intensified after the now President-Elect’s list of 21 potential nominees, which was finalised and published in September, was temporarily removed from his campaign website.

The list ‘hasn’t changed’

However, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has put those fears to rest this week, confirming that Mr Trump will in fact choose a final nominee from among the 21 names already released by his campaign. ‘You’ve seen the list of 21,’ she told reporters. ‘That list hasn’t changed… he’s committed to choosing from that list of 21.’

Key voter issue

The issue of Supreme Court justices became contentious in this year’s election following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, arguably the bench’s staunchest conservative. Trump’s choice of Justice Scalia’s successor has the power to swing the liberal-conservative balance of the nation’s highest court, and it is likely that at least one other SCOTUS vacancy is likely to arise during his term (or terms) as President. According to Ms Conway, exit poll data shows that one-fifth of those who voted on 8 November cited the Supreme Court as the top, or one of the top, issues influencing their vote.

President-Elect Trump’s potential picks for the Supreme Court are:

1. Keith Blackwell

2. Charles Canady

3. Steven Colloton

4. Allison Eid

5. Neil Gorsuch

6. Raymond Gruender

7. Thomas Hardiman

8. Raymond Kethledge

9. Joan Larsen

10. Mike Lee

11. Thomas Lee

12. Edward Mansfield

13. Federico Moreno

14. William Pryor

15. Margaret A. Ryan

16. Amul Thapar

17. Timothy Tymkovich

18. David Stras

19. Diane Sykes

20. Don Willett

21. Robert Young

Sources: Bloomberg News; Townhall