Conservative US appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch has been told he is likely President Donald Trump's pick to fill a seat on the US Supreme Court that has been vacant for almost a year.
Gorsuch, 49, who would replace the late Antonin Scalia, is a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
He was appointed by President George W Bush in 2006.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer says the nominee for the Supreme Court was an important issue for many voters.
"I can assure you that this individual will make those voters and every American very, very proud.
"This particular choice is one the President takes very seriously. He knows it will impact the course of this country's jurisprudence for generations to come," Mr Spicer says.
"Whomever the President selects will be a worthy successor to the brilliant legal mind and the constitutional dedication of Justice Scalia."
Mr Trump is set to officially name his choice later tonight (local time).
But some Democrats in the US Senate, which votes on whether to confirm judicial nominees, have already said they would seek to block whoever Trump nominates.
Reuters/ Newshub.
