SCOTUS: Trump interviews senator as possible replacement for Kennedy

In his search to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, President Trump has been conducting rounds of interviews. U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) confirmed on Tuesday that he is one of several candidates in the running.

What are the details?

Lee said at a town hall meeting last week that if he were asked to take the gig, "[he] wouldn't say no." The senator's office confirmed that he spoke with President Trump on Monday — and while the White House made reference to the call, further details weren't disclosed by the administration.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) hailed the possibility of Lee becoming Trump's pick, saying, "I think the single best choice President Trump could make to fill this vacancy is Sen. Mike Lee. I think he would be extraordinary."

Former US Senator Jim DeMint (R) of South Carolina said of Lee, "He has exactly the brilliance, the background and temperament that President Trump should be looking for. But he also has the rarest of qualities: courage — the willingness to do the right thing, no matter what."

Who else is considered a prospect?

President Trump has said that he will pick Kennedy's replacement from the list of 25 prospects that he disclosed as a candidate in 2016. Also included on the short list is reportedly Senator Lee's brother, Utah Supreme Court Justice Thomas Lee.

And while it appears that Senator Lee is now also a part of the short list, he has no judicial experience, while all other assumed contenders do.

But Senator Lee and his brother are both familiar with both the Supreme Court and Washington, as sons of Rex Lee — President Ronald Reagan's solicitor general.

Anything further?

The fact that Lee is a Senator means that he could, possibly, be voting on his own confirmation as a Justice, if he were to become the nominee. He told Fox News last week, "My understanding is that that is what the Senate rules allow and you're still a senator until you're no longer a senator. You're still a senator at the moment you're being considered for something like that."

President Trump is expected to reveal his nominee next week.