NC native with anti-LGBTQ ties makes President Trump's short list as possible Supreme Court nominee

President Trump is sharing his new shortlist of potential supreme court nominees and a North Carolina native is on that list.

Judge Allison Jones Rushing currently sits on the fourth circuit court of appeals in Richmond. Jones is from Hendersonville and earned her J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2007. Jones also graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in 2004.

When she was confirmed, Rushing was one of four judges on the 15-member court appointed by Trump. She was nominated by Trump in 2018.

Rushing, 38, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for the 2010-11 term, according to a report from our newsgathering partners at The News & Observer. Her nomination was contested by some because of her association with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian nonprofit group that she worked for. The group is considered an "anti-LGBTQ" organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate," Rushing wrote in a response to Senators' questions. "A number of leading Supreme Court practitioners at well-regarded national law firms work with ADF. Members of Congress, including members of this Committee, have filed amicus briefs in the Supreme Court supporting ADF's positions. I do not think members of this Committee or large reputable law firms would work with a hate group. I certainly would not."

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis supported the pick on Twitter.

Also on the president's list is Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton and former GOP rival and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.