Biden is 'planning to nominate an anti-abortion Republican lawyer as a judge in Kentucky in a deal with Mitch McConnell to stop him holding up his picks for federal benches' 

• S. Chad Meredith previously served as Kentucky's solicitor general
• Democrat Rep. John Yarmuth reportedly said that President Biden struck it as part of a 'larger deal on judicial nominations'
• It might hurt Biden's credibility with Democrat in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning abortion protections granted by Roe v. Wade 
• McConnell vowed earlier this week that he would be 'picky' with the president's nominees if Republicans take back the Senate majority in November 

President Joe Biden plans to nominate an anti-abortion lawyer to a federal judgeship in Kentucky as part of a deal struck with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, it was reported on Wednesday night.

S. Chad Meredith, a Federalist Society-backed attorney, fought against federal COVID-19 public health measures and to limit abortion access in Kentucky as the state's solicitor general.

The move could damage the president's credibility with pro-choice groups in the wake of the Supreme Court rolling back federal abortion rights late last week, when its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.

Biden handed McConnell the victory in exchange for the Kentucky Republican 'agreeing not to hold up future federal nominations by the Biden White House,' the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

The only Democrat in Kentucky's Congressional delegation told the outlet he believes it's part of a 'larger deal on judicial nominations.'

One of Meredith's recent anti-abortion victories was a 2021 case in which he successfully argued that doctors performing the medical procedure must first give their patients ultrasounds and describe the fetus being shown.

He also fought a Kentucky abortion clinic on behalf of its Republican then-Governor Matt Bevin.

There are currently no federal judicial posts open in Kentucky, but there are 64 district court vacancies and seven for the US Court of Appeals.

Biden has 20 nominees pending for both - and McConnell suggested the waiting list would get longer if Republicans take back the majority in November.

'If I’m the majority leader, we’ll be really picky on appointees. There are 1,200 executive branch appointments that come to us,' he said earlier this week at the Rotary Club of Florence County, Kentucky.

He vowed, 'We’ll be way more picky over who gets to head various boards and commissions and agencies that are important to how all of you function in our society.' 

The lack of a current opening for Meredith, however, means it can still be derailed by Biden's Democrat allies and pro-choice activists. 

Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky's lone House Democrat, told the Courier-Journal that he would 'strongly' oppose Meredith's appointment. 

'Given that a judicial position isn’t currently open on the Eastern District Court, it’s clear that this is part of some larger deal on judicial nominations between the president and Mitch McConnell,' he told the outlet.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Yarmuth's office for confirmation.

Requests for further comment were also sent to the White House, Meredith, and McConnell's office.

Meredith shares his Federalist Society ties with all five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.

The organization is well known for helping mold conservative attorneys, many of whom have gone on to various legal posts throughout state and federal governments.

Former President Donald Trump consulted with Leonard Leo, who led the Federalist Society at the time, about all three of his Supreme Court appointees - Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

All three, along with Justice Clarence Thomas, agreed with Justice Samuel Alito's Friday opinion that abortion rights were not enshrined in the US Constitution. 

President Joe Biden called the decision 'outrageous' during a press conference in Madrid on Thursday. 

He said he would make further announcements on federal action after meeting with governors upon his return on Friday.

'I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade in the law,' the president said.