evidence: President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court President Donald Trump named U.S. appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, picking from a list of candidates that included U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. [...] Her nomination will kick off what’s expected to be one of the most contentious confirmation battles in recent memory. Republicans say they intend to seat Barrett this year, even though the vacancy on the court opened up less than two months before Election Day. Democrats are determined to fight the nomination, noting that Republicans refused to confirm former President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court in 2016 when a seat came open 269 days from Election Day.