(Image source from: NDTV.com)

The United States President Donald Trump has interviewed salient Indian-American Judge Amul Thapar and three other judicial luminaries, who are shortlisted by the U.S. President as potential candidates to replace Supreme Court Justice, Anthony Kennedy.

Justice Kennedy, 81, has proclaimed his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week. He met President Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., soon after he told his Supreme Court colleagues that July 31 would be his last day at the Supreme Court.

Amul Thapar, 49, is among the 25 shortlisted judges President Trump could propose to replace Justice Kennedy.

The names were disclosed neither by White House nor Donald Trump except saying that he interviews four potential Supreme Court nominees.

According to a report, the four interviewed by President Trump for the Supreme Court bench are Amul Thapar, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Raymond Kethledge.

"I'll be meeting two or three more and we'll make a decision on the United States Supreme Court, the new justice," President Trump said, describing the meeting as very interesting.

"That'll be made over the next few days and we'll be announcing it on Monday, July 9, and I look forward to that. I think the person that is chosen will be outstanding," President Trump told reporters at the White House.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that President Trump was looking for individuals who have the right intellect, the right temperament and will uphold the Constitution.

Indian-American Raj Shah has been appointed by Donald Trump to work full time on overseeing the communication efforts associated with the nomination.

"Raj Shah will oversee communications, strategy and messaging coordination with Capitol Hill allies. He will take leave from his role as Principal Deputy Press Secretary to work on the Supreme Court nomination full time," Sanders said.

Amul Thapar would replace Justice Kennedy if nominated and confirmed by the Senate and will be the first Indian-American to be on the bench of the nine-member Supreme Court.

By Sowmya Sangam