Trump says his Supreme Court pick will 'most likely' be a woman, and he'll announce it next week

• President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday he will "most likely" select a woman as his Supreme Court nominee, and he'll announce it next week.
• His remarks come just one day after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which immediately launched a debate over the fairness of nominating a justice so close to the November election.
• Trump's rumored shortlist includes Judge Amy Coney Barrett and Judge Barbara Lagoa.

President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday that he believes he'll pick a Supreme Court nominee next week, and that it will "most likely" be a woman.

"We want to respect the process. I think it's going to go very quickly, actually," Trump said just before departing to North Carolina for a campaign rally. He did not specify exactly when next week he will announce the nominee.

The Supreme Court vacancy comes after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87 on Friday. The death set off a roiling debate over the fairness of nominating a Supreme Court justice so close to the November 3 presidential election — after Republicans denied Democrats a similar opportunity four years ago.

Trump and Republican leadership have both said they intend to select and vote on a Trump nominee immediately.

Though at least one Republican senator — Susan Collins of Maine — has expressed misgivings over voting on a Supreme Court nominee before the election, Trump vowed Saturday to press ahead with the process.

"I totally disagree with her — we have an obligation. We won. And we have an obligation as the winners to pick who we want," Trump said in response to Collins' remarks.

A number of media outlets have reported that Trump is strongly considering Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who currently sits on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Barbara Lagoa of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Read more:
• Susan Collins says the president elected on November 3 should be the one to pick the next Supreme Court justice
• High profile issues are now at stake on the Supreme Court in the wake of Ginsburg's death
• Chuck Schumer: If GOP tries to fill Ginsburg's seat, 'nothing is off the table next year'
• Supreme Court Justices mourn the death but praise the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg