In an apparent bid to win over social conservatives skeptical of his candidacy, Donald Trump has expanded his list of potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees to include Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady, an ardent pro-life jurist who famously coined the term 'partial-birth abortion.'

  • Trump released a list of people he'd consider for Supreme Court
  • FL. Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady was among 21 people listed

Canady is now among 21 people Trump says he'd consider appointing to the nation's highest court should he become president.

Releasing such a list is unusual for a sitting president, let alone a presidential candidate, but could serve a strategic purpose for Trump. The Republican Party's standard-bearer is a former Democrat who has taken decidedly liberal positions on social issues, including abortion.

Trump now says he's pro-life, an evolution many social conservatives refuse to accept.

Trump's consideration of Canady, in particular, could have a galvanizing impact on pro-life voters in a swing state Trump almost certainly has to win to have a viable path to the White House.

Appointed to the state Supreme Court by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008, Canady has consistently sided in favor of restrictive abortion laws, most recently dissenting in a ruling that temporarily froze a controversial measure requiring women to wait 24 hours after an initial consultation before receiving an abortion.

As a Lakeland Republican member of Congress in the 1990s, Canady defined partial-birth abortion procedures, which occur late in pregnancy and are now banned by the federal government.

"He is a strong pro-life leader and would make a great justice," said Pam Olsen, a pro-life activist who pointedly noted Trump wasn't her first, second, nor third choice to be the GOP's presidential nominee.

Canady's inclusion on Trump's list of potential Supreme Court appointees, however, has helped to firm up her support for the real estate mogul.

"You never know what moves a person to suddenly decide, you know, ‘I'm going to cast my vote this way'," Olsen said. "The reality is, I hope the voters in Florida look at the issue of life and look at, yes, we do have a Florida Supreme Court justice that could end up on the U.S. Supreme Court."

Consolidating Republicans behind his candidacy is critical for Trump, who polls indicate is struggling with women, minorities and independents.

Along with economic and defense-minded conservatives, social conservatives can be a make-or-break force in presidential elections, depending on their turnout.

But while Trump's bold entreaty to the third leg of the Republican stool could help boost his support, pro-choice activists are seizing on his list of anti-abortion jurists as motivation for progressive voters to turn out, as well.

"We're ready to make sure that our people register to vote, because we want to make sure that every woman in this state knows what we're up against and that this impacts their personal lives," said Anna Eskamani, the director of public policy for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, of the group's efforts this election season.