Donald Trump has nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court, an appointment that would decisively shift the country’s highest bench in a conservative direction if she is confirmed.
Ms Barrett, a 48-year-old federal appeals court judge, is favoured by religious conservatives and anti-abortion campaigners for the vacant seat left by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal icon and women’s rights pioneer who died last week.
Senate Republicans have indicated they will move quickly to confirm Ms Barrett before the presidential election in November, despite blocking Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee in 2016 on the grounds that it was an election year.
Mr Trump made the announcement at the White House on Saturday, the first step in what will be an accelerated process to deliver to conservatives a powerful 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court.
The nomination comes at a…