White House reportedly readying to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The White House is already preparing for another possible Supreme Court showdown — one that may or may not even take place any time soon.

Politico reported Thursday that the White House counsel's office, with the help of some Senate Judiciary Committee aides, has been assembling a shortlist of potential nominees to the Supreme Court should Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat open up, either because of her death or her retirement.

Ginsburg, who had cancerous growths removed from her lungs last month, on Monday missed a day of oral arguments for the first time since she was appointed in 1993, and the White House apparently wasted no time in, as Politico's source puts it, "taking the temperature" on replacements. The Supreme Court said after Ginsburg's surgery in December there was "no evidence of any remaining disease."

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The White House's shortlist reportedly includes some names that were considered for the seat that ultimately was filled by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, including Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The process, however, is happening "very quietly" a source told Politico. Should Ginsburg actually create a vacancy, this would be President Trump's third appointment to the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg said in January 2018, per The Los Angeles Times, that "As long as I can do the job full steam, I will be here."