“The fact that she was highly considered before during the Kavanaugh nomination process made it an easy selection,” said one Republican close to the White House. “She was a very impressive candidate, and aides were very unified on the decision.”

Trump didn’t even meet with the other leading candidate, Barbara Lagoa, a judge on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, while traveling in her home state of Florida this week…

“It solidifies the conservative 6-3 majority,” said Carl Tobias, a law professor and expert on federal judicial selection at the University of Richmond Law School. “Chief Justice [John] Roberts will not be as central as he was last term. I do not see much hope for progressives in the short term.”

“Barring structural changes to the court,” he added, “the conservative majority could last for decades, or at least a decade.”