US: Indian-born judge frontrunner to fill Supreme Court seat

An Indian-born judge is a frontrunner in the race to replace the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court bench following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last week.

Srikanth Srinivasan (pictured), a judge on the federal Court of Appeal bench for the District of Columbia Circuit is regarded as President Obama’s favourite choice.

But the President must convince senior Republicans he should be able to make the nomination rather than leave the choice to his successor.

However, it has been reported that the party may be more receptive to an immediate appointment. Sandra Day O’Connor, a former Supreme Court justice was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: “We need somebody there now to do the job … let’s get on with it.”

Mr Srinavasan was unanimously confirmed by the Senate three years ago – unusual as the Republicans held a majority in the chamber.

However, it is because of this bipartisan appeal many commentators think President Obama will select him for the job.

Mr Srinavasan, whose family hail from a village in Tamil Nadu, earned his JD and MBA from Stanford University.

He served as Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United states from 2011 until his judicial appointment and has also taught at Harvard Law School.

Scott Lucas, professor of American studies at the University of Birmingham, told Scottish Legal News: “For social as well as political and legal reasons, Srinivasan’s nomination makes sense. He is already on the US Court of Appeals, a ‘training ground’ for potential Justices.”

“Socially, Srinivasan would break new ground as the first Asian-American on the Court, following President Obama’s appointment of the first Hispanic-American, Sonia Sotomayor.

“However, all of this is the context of bitter politics. In a US which is already polarized, conservatives are trying to prevent Obama making a nomination, let alone letting through a nominee without a protracted fight.

“Srinavasan’s legal qualifications and the social signal of his appointment will be hostage to election-year grandstanding, especially by the Republicans.”