Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Neomi Rao to Replace Kavanaugh

Neomi Rao will fill the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

Neomi Rao smiles as US President Donald Trump announces his intention to nominate her to fill Brett Kavanaugh’s seat on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. 

(Photo: AP)

US President Donald Trump is nominating administration official Neomi Rao to fill the appeals court seat previously held by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Trump said on Tuesday that he was nominating Rao for the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Rao currently serves as the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which is part of the Office of Management and Budget.

Rao previously worked as a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

She also served in President George W Bush’s administration and worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump made the announcement at a White House event marking Diwali.

Rao thanked Trump "for the confidence you've shown in me."

At the event, Trump also took a shot at Federal Communications Commission Chairperson Ajit Pai.

“I just didn’t like one decision he made, but that’s all right. Not even a little bit. But he’s independent.”

Donald Trump

Trump did not elaborate on what decisions he opposed.