>> we're excited about who he's going to pick. >> reporter: abc news has learned the president has spoken to eight candidates, at least one of whom was not on his original list of 25. >> they are really incredible people in so many different ways. academically, in every other way. >> reporter: several candidates have come for white house interviews, including judge brett kavanaugh, who sits on the court of appeals d.c. circuit. he's a former clerk of retiring justice anthony kennedy. there are two women on the presidential short list -- judge amy coney barrett of indiana, and judge joan larsen of michigan, both former clerks of the late conservative icon justice antonin scalia. they're also both trump appointees to the court of appeals, recently confirmed by congress. at their joint confirmation hearing, abortion took center stage. >> i would be bound by the precedence of the supreme court. >> i agree with justice larsen. >> reporter: judge coney barrett