washington secret meet neighbor house drive back country road clandestine flight military jet mark judge neil gorsuch journey white house week u.s. president donald trump choose supreme court nominee trump take office january 20 call gorsuch monday inform prevail among handful finalists succeed decease justice antonin scalia high court decision set rapid secretive process get gorsuch washington without alert journalists supreme court watchers president selection trump call colorado-based judge team white house counsel office fly denver drive boulder roughly 45 minutes away meet gorsuch family meet neighbor house avoid detection white house staff spirit though back farm road wait military plane transport washington white house spokesman sean spic tell reporters tuesday night white house east room gorsuch stay friend residence bring white house tuesday even announcement secrecy continue last minute trump former reality television star enter east room come alone address cameras wait crowd include scalia widow podium call gorsuch wife come trump decision come narrow list 21 candidates six include thomas hardiman william pryor amul thapar diane sykes willett president-elect trump interview gorsuch hardiman pryor jan. 14 new york residence also interview thapar finalize decision recently consider 21 candidates deeply say kellyanne conway senior adviser counselor president white house counsel mcgahn inform hardiman pryor thapar choose spic say white house determine keep president supreme court selection secret make announcement choice success botch rollout refugee executive order contribute confusion worldwide criticism last weekend strategy get gorsuch confirm kick right away spic say former senator kelly ayotte serve sherpa help steer nominee senate confirmation process back road drive secret flight bring trump 's court pick washington