WASHINGTON: Indian-American appeals court judge Sri Srinivasan, who has pro-business credentials and a stellar resume, is in the race to become the US Supreme Court judge in place of Justice Antonin Scalia who died suddenly. If he was nominated his background may make it more politically challenging for Republicans as they plan to block anyone put forward by President Barack Obama.
Srinivasan, 48, has served on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Many names are likely under consideration and the White House has not showed its choice, but recent Supreme Court appointments have tended to be appeals court judges and the appeals court in Washington on which Srinivasan serves has often been a springboard to the high court. Scalia himself served on the court, as did other Supreme Court members Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The White House said Obama would wait until the US Senate was back in session before making a nomination. The Senate returns from recess on February 22. Republicans have called for Scalia's seat to remain open so that the next president, who would take office in January 2017, can nominate a replacement.
Little is known about Srinivasan's views on divisive social issues like abortion and affirmative action. But as a senior Justice Department lawyer in 2013, he was part of the legal team that successfully urged the high court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that restricted the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples for the purposes of federal benefits. The ruling helped pave the way for the court's ruling in June 2015 that legalized gay marriage nationwide.
Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh, India and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, where his father was a professor at the University of Kansas. If appointed, he would be the first Indian-American to serve on the Supreme Court.
