Ted Cruz Not Interested in U.S. Supreme Court Service

DALLAS — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is not interested in serving on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"That is not a desire of my heart," Cruz said in an interview Friday morning on Dallas radio. "I am committed to the fight of ensuring we have strong principled constitutionalists on the court, but I believe that I can do a great more good fighting across the political spectrum."

Cruz's remarks come despite the urging of some of his top supporters, especially following the end of his presidential campaign last week. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has suggested presumptive nominee Donald Trump could bring together the GOP by promising to appoint Cruz to the high court.

In the interview, though, the former solicitor general of Texas said he was focused elsewhere. 

"I have had several opportunities in the past to go to the bench, and I certainly deeply respect the job that justices do, but I think our country's in crisis and I think we need a strong conservative president who will not appoint not just one, but two, three, four, five Supreme Court justices who are principled constitutionalists," Cruz told host Chris Salcedo of WBAP.

Cruz is returning to his home state to address the Texas GOP convention Saturday in Dallas.