Trump nominates Neomi Rao to replace Kavanaugh on DC circuit

Trump, during Diwali celebrations on Tuesday at the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House, announced the nomination of the 45-year-old regulatory czar for the DC Circuit, considered next to the US Supreme Court.

Last month Kavanaugh, 53, was sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice.

He has been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off claims of sexual assault, which he denies.

The South Asian Bar Association welcomed the nomination of Rao, who currently serves as the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

In her current position, Rao played a key role in regulatory reform, which according to the White House, saved American families and businesses $23 billion in fiscal year-2018 by getting rid of unduly burdensome and unnecessary regulation.

Prior to her service as OIRA Administrator, Rao was a professor of structural constitutional law, administrative law, and legislation and statutory interpretation at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

Rao founded the Law School's Center for the Study of the Administrative State and focused her scholarship on the political and constitutional accountability of administrative agencies and the role of Congress.

Rao has previously served in all three branches of the federal government, and before taking on her current role in the executive branch, she was Associate Counsel and Special Assistant to the President for the George W Bush administration.

She also served as counsel to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she was responsible for judicial nominations and constitutional law issues.