INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
interviewed an Indian-American woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the powerful federal appeals court in Washington,
DC, according to a report.Neomi Jehangir Rao, 45, who is currently administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, was
recommended for the judgeship on the DC Circuit Court by former White House counsel Don McGahn, news website Axios reported on Sunday.Citing
sources, the website said Donald Trump was interested in Ms Rao so that he could appoint a minority woman to Brett Kavanaugh's old job.Ms
Rao, a former clerk for conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was confirmed by the Senate with a 54-41 vote in July 2017 to
head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
The agency reviews executive branch regulations, a task the DC Circuit often addresses.Ms Rao in this capacity is called the regulatory czar
of the Trump administration.Before being sworn in as the US Supreme Court Judge, Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation process was marred by
Columbia Circuit.The position has now fallen vacant and Donald Trump is reported to be interviewing several individuals for this
position.Sree Srinivasan is another Indian-American on this prestigious US federal court.While one source told the website that Ms Rao did
not leave Mr Trump with a good first impression, another said the president had not ruled her out of contention."Immediately after Trump met
with Rao, two sources briefed on their encounter say they got the strong impression that the president was not impressed by her," the news
portal said."Yes, but: A third source, who is close to Trump, told me late this week that it seemed like he was reconsidering his initial
judgement of Rao and may still pick her," reports said.Ms Rao has previously served in all three branches of the federal government.She
served as Associate Counsel to President George W Bush; counsel for nominations and constitutional law to the US Senate Committee on the
Judiciary; and law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of US Supreme Court.She practiced public international law and arbitration at Clifford
Ms Rao received her JD with high honours from the University of Chicago and her BA from Yale University.Last December, Donald Trump had
praised Ms Rao's contribution in cutting down regulations.Ms Rao was born to mother Zerin Rao and father Jehangir Narioshang Rao, both Parsi
