The White House and conservative lawyers are preparing a short list of judges for President Trump to review if a Supreme Court vacancy appears in the next three-plus years.

Time magazine reported Tuesday that the names are being debated among Trump allies.

“We are looking for people in the mold of Alito, Clarence Thomas and the late Scalia,” a White House official told Time.

The official was referring to Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Justice Clarence Thomas, the most senior justices on the bench. Justice Alito is 75 years old and has served for 19 years while Justice Thomas is 77 with 34 years at the high court.

The official added that it’s “premature” to say the Trump team is readying for a vacancy.

During his first term, Mr. Trump appointed three justices to the high court: Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

If the president could make two more during his second administration, the court would have five Trump appointees.

According to Time, Andrew Oldham, a judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Neomi Rao, a judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, are potential front-runners if a spot opens up.

Judge Oldham clerked for Justice Alito, and Judge Rao clerked for Justice Thomas.

According to the report, Judge James Ho, who sits on the 5th Circuit, and 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Raymond M. Kethledge and Amul R. Thapar are also in the running.

• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.