President Trump Passes Over Mass. Native for Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, DC — Despite making the shortlist for nominee, a judge born in Winchester and raised in Waltham won't be the country's next Supreme Court justice.

President Donald Trump passed over Judge Thomas Hardiman, reportedly a top contender for the post, opting instead to nominate Judge Neil Gorsuch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

Whoever the nominee, Democrats are expected to put up a fight, eager to do battle against Trump and to repay Republicans' decision to block former President Obama's previous nominee for Antonin Scalia's empty seat.

Hardiman, 51, currently sits on the federal appeals court in Philadelphia. He was first appointed to serve on the federal district court by George W. Bush in 2003, after several years in private practice in Washington, D.C. and in Pittsburgh.

Hardiman began his career in 1987 as a taxi driver and dispatcher at Waltham Central Square Taxi, according to a biography submitted during his appeals court confirmation hearing. Described as a devout Catholic, he went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, then Georgetown University.

One person in his corner was reportedly Trump's sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, who serves with Hardiman on the federal appeals court.

On the campaign trail, Trump had said he would nominate a justice in the conservative tradition of Scalia.

Hardiman was reportedly one of three possibilities for the post, with the other leading contenders including Judge William Pryor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and Gorsuch.

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