President Donald Trump has nominated Brett Kavanaugh as a replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, potentially reshaping the makeup of the nation’s highest court in a conservative direction for years. Trump’s decision — which came in a televised announcement on Monday night, less than two weeks after Kennedy announced his retirement — is part of an expedited effort by Republicans to confirm a new justice before the midterm elections in November. White House counsel Don McGahn and outside consultant Leonard Leo, who is on leave from the Federalist Society, have been advising Trump on the decision. Kavanaugh was consistently reported to be among the top four candidates on Trump’s shortlist, as the favorite of McGahn.