Two of the three top contenders for the open U.S. Supreme Court seat appeared to be fans of credit unions.

They were members of credit unions in 2013, according to their most recent financial disclosure reports.

The three top contenders are all federal judges, according to word circulating around the nation’s capital. One of them is likely to be nominated by President Obama to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, although the Senate confirmation process may cause delays.

They are Merrick Garland and Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and Paul Watford of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Watford’s financial disclosure statement filed in 2013 — the latest available statement — showed he held an account totaling less than $2,500 at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based credit union with $11.8 billion in assets.

And Garland’s financial disclosure report showed an account totaling less than $5,000 with the Justice Federal Credit Union, a nationwide credit union that serves employees of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and other law enforcement agencies. The Chantilly, Va.-based credit union has about $668 million in assets.

Among sitting justices, support for credit unions is bipartisan; the two who had accounts are at different ends of the political spectrum.

In 2014, conservative Justice Samuel Alito held an account totaling less than $15,000 at the $1.1 billion Andrews Federal Credit Union, which is located in Suitland, Md. and serves members of the military and others around the world.

And if account size mattered most, the biggest credit union fan is liberal Justice Elena Kagan, who held an account of between $250,001 and $500,000 at Justice FCU.

The records for the sitting justices and possible nominees were compiled by the Center for Responsible Politics.

Instant Insights /

Two Supreme Court Contenders Are Credit Union Members

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