Sri Srini still in race for US Supreme Court nomination

The White House is interviewing five potential nominees for the US Supreme Court vacancy created by the death last month of Justice Antonin Scalia. Sources say those under consideration are federal judges Sri Srinivasan, Jane Kelly, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Paul Watford and Merrick Garland. Reports said the five were the only ones currently under consideration. 

Outside groups have said that President Barack Obama is likely to consider a woman or a racial minority, with prior judgeship confirmed by Senate majority. The process of filling the vacant spot has ignited a partisan battle in Washington. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not hold hearings on anyone nominated to the Supreme Court by Obama, a Democrat. 

Republicans who control the Senate do not want a ideological shift to the left and say the next justice should be picked by the winner of the November 8 election.