Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/753051
CLIFFOWEN—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito speaks at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention in Washington Thursday. ByMarkSherman The Associated Press WASHINGTON Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued a rallying cry to conservatives Thursday amid newfound strength following Donald Trump's election. Alito told the Federalist Society conference of con- servative lawyers, judges and legal thinkers that re- ligious freedom and gun rights are among "consti- tutional fault lines," im- portant issues at stake in the federal courts. The conference of 1,800 of conservatism's leading lights took on a new air of importance with Trump's victory, and included a list of judges the president- elect has named as can- didates to fill the vacancy created by the death last February of Justice Anto- nin Scalia. In his remarks, Alito didn't mention the elec- tion or the vacancy, rather using the platform to pay tribute to Scalia, a long- time colleague and con- servative ally in high court battles on hot-button so- cial and political issues. He said Scalia, a hero to many of the group's 40,000 members, is sorely missed on the court. "We are left to ask ourselves WWSD," what would Scalia do, Alito said. The lettering is a play on the phrase "WWJD," for what would Jesus do. In the halls of the con- ference there was little for- mal talk of the election or the fight to seat a new jus- tice. But attendees packed a lunchtime panel mod- erated by Michigan Su- preme Court Justice Joan Larsen, one of 21 people on Trump's list, and the Supreme Court vacancy was the talk of hallway chatter among lawyers who ranged from Trump backers to those who pro- claimed they would never vote for him. Larsen served as a Su- preme Court law clerk to Scalia and said he valued hisclerks'frankassessment of his work. "It was a for- midable task to stand up to Justice Scalia and say, 'You have gone too far.' But he valued that," Larsen said. Other sessions were moderated by Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Da- vid Stras and federal appel- late judges William Pryor and Thomas Hardiman, all on Trump's list. Before the conference ends Satur- day, nine judges on the list are expected to appear. The court has been op- erating with eight jus- tices since Scalia's death because Senate Repub- licans blocked action on President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Mer- rick Garland. Alitoralliesconservatives in t ri bu te t o Ju st ic e Sc al ia SUPREME COURT By Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey The Associated Press NEW YORK President-elect Donald Trump offered for- mer military intelligence chief Michael Flynn the job of national security ad- viser as he began to build out his national security team Thursday, according to a senior Trump official. The move came as Trump made his most direct foray into foreign policy since the election, meeting with Ja- pan's prime minister. Flynn, who served as the director of the Defense In- telligence Agency, has ad- vised Trump on national security issues for months. As national security ad- viser, he would work in the White House and have fre- quent access to the presi- dent. The post does not re- quire Senate confirmation. The official wouldn't say whether Flynn had ac- cepted the job, which left open the possibility that the arrangement was not final- ized. The official was not authorized to discuss the offer publicly and insisted on anonymity. Flynn, who turns 58 in December, built a reputa- tion in the Army as an as- tute intelligence profes- sional and a straight talker. He retired in 2014 and has been a fierce critic of Presi- dent Barack Obama's White House and Pentagon, tak- ing issue with the adminis- tration's approach to global affairs and fighting Islamic State militants. Trump is a foreign policy novice and his early moves on national security are be- ing closely watched by U.S allies and adversaries alike. He's said to be considering a range of officials with varying degrees of experi- ence to lead the State De- partment and Pentagon. The president-elect held his first face-to-face meet- ing with a world leader since winning the presiden- tial election, huddling pri- vately with Japan's Shinzo Abe. While Trump made no comments following the meeting, Abe said the pres- ident-elect was "a leader in whom I can have great con- fidence." Trump also consulted with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and sat down with South Caro- lina Gov. Nikki Haley, a po- tential contender to lead the State Department. In Washington, Vice Pres- ident-elect Mike Pence hud- dled with Republican lead- ers in Congress. He then met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the newly elected leader of the Senate Democrats, seeking to convey respect as Dem- ocrats prepare for Republi- can rule of both chambers and the White House for the first time in a decade. "We look forward to find- ing ways that we can find common ground and move the country forward," Pence said outside Schumer's Sen- ate office. In a separate gesture of reconciliation with es- tablishment Republicans, Trump planned to meet with 2012 Republican pres- idential nominee Mitt Rom- ney, who lambasted Trump as a"con man" anda"fraud" in a stinging speech last March. Trump responded by repeatedly referring to Romney as a "loser." The two began mending fences after Trump's victory when Romney called with congratulations. They are to meet this weekend, a tran- sition official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't autho- rized to discuss Trump's schedule publicly. Cam- paign manager Kellyanne Conway said they were still "working on" the meeting. Trump's actions Thurs- day aimed to show leaders both in the U.S. and over- seas that he could soften his rhetoric, offer pragma- tism in the White House and reaffirm longstanding American alliances. Since his stunning victory over Hillary Clinton last week, Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladi- mir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and nearly three dozen other world leaders by telephone. Ron Dermer, Israel's am- bassador to the United States, also visited the sky- scraper and called Trump "a true friend of Israel." He specifically cited as another "friend" Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon, whose selection as a top White House adviser has created a backlash among Demo- crats. Bannon's news web- site has peddled conspiracy theories, white nationalism and anti-Semitism. "We look forward to working with the Trump administration, with all the members of the Trump administration, includ- ing Steve Bannon, in mak- ing the U.S.-Israel alliance stronger than ever," Dermer said. Trump, a reality televi- sion star, business mogul and political newcomer, also rolled out new teams that will interact with the State Department, Penta- gon, Justice Department and other national security agencies. The move is part of the government transi- tion before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. Coordination had been on hold until Trump's team submitted documents in- cluding a list of transition team members who will co- ordinate with specific fed- eral agencies, plus certifica- tion that they meet a code of conduct barring conflicts of interest. White House spokes- woman Brandi Hoffine said the minimum paperwork was finished Thursday, meaning agencies could start providing briefings and written materials to Trump's team. Indeed, the departments of State, De- fense and Justice say meet- ings are being set up. TRANSITION Source: Trump offers Flynn national security adviser job CAROLYN KASTER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn gestures as he arrives at Trump Tower on Thursday in New York. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 3 B ★