TALLAHASSEE – Federal appeals court Judge Barbara Lagoa of Florida emerged Saturday as a little-known front-runner for President Donald Trump's upcoming Supreme Court nomination.
As a successor to the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lagoa, 52, would bring lengthy judicial experience in state and federal courts as well as two potential political benefits: She is a Cuban American from a battleground state Trump desperately needs to win in November.
Trump praised Lagoa and another front-runner, appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, in remarks to reporters Saturday. He said he has "heard at length" about Lagoa. "She's Hispanic and highly respected," the president also said.
Lagoa was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit only last year after serving briefly on the Florida Supreme Court. But she served for a dozen years on the state's 3rd District Court of Appeal after being appointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. There she took part in more than 11,000 cases and wrote more than 470 opinions.
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