Courtwatch
May 6, 2009 2:44 PM

You Decide Who Will Be Picked To The Supreme Court

By
Andrew Cohen
Topics
Souter's Replacement
Below are my top 10 contenders for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Souter's retirement. Take a look and then vote for your top prediction. Or let me know who I forgot in the comments.

(AP)
Jennifer Granholm: Michigan's governor is bright, has a ton of experience in politics, and has the Harvard Law School connection. It's hers to lose.


(AP)
Christine O. Gregoire: Another female governor from Democratic state (Washington) but she's not as experienced in the law as Granholm. Long, longshot.


(AP)
Elena Kagan: Obama's Solicitor General may be too liberal, and might not have enough experience, to be considered seriously this time around. But after some seasoning before Court she might get to go behind the bench down the road.


Pamela S. Karlan: Brilliant Stanford Law Professor would be first openly gay Justice. Is the president ready for that fight at this time? And, if so, doesn't Sullivan (see below) get first nod?


(Emory University )
Leah Ward Sears: The Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Georgia is the first black woman ever in that role—will get a close look but I'm not sure she is as brilliant intellectually as some of these competitors.


4993195Sonia Sotamayor: Morning line favorite on 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has faded a bit as possibility after scrutiny of firefighter-affirmative action decision, questions about working style.


(stanford.edu)
Kathleen Sullivan: Former Stanford Law School Dean, first amendment expert, and she shares Harvard Law School tie with the President. She is probably on short list and she should be.


(Harv. Law Record)
Cass Sunstein: Would be odds-on-favorite if president were not predisposed to selecting a woman or minority nominee for more balance on the Court. Check back on him for next appointment or one after that.


(AP)
Kim Wardlaw: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge is probably on the shortest of short lists. An Hispanic female, with decent track record, she doesn't bring the same baggage that Judge Sotomayor carries.


(AP)
Diane Wood: 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge is smart, seasoned and comes with only minor baggage (already tagged by conservative groups). But she's a sitting federal judge and the White House keeps talking about "diversity" of experience.

Who Do You Think Obama Will Nominate To The Supreme Court?
 Jennifer Granholm
 Christine O. Gregoire
 Elena Kagan
 Pamela S. Karlan
 Leah Ward Sears
 Sonia Sotamayor
 Kathleen Sullivan
 Cass Sunstein
 Kim Wardlaw
 Diane Wood
 Someone Else




(CBS)
Andrew Cohen is CBS News' Chief Legal Analyst and Legal Editor. CourtWatch is his new blog with analysis and commentary on breaking legal news and events. For columns on legal issues before the beginning of this blog, click here.

Add a Comment See all 20 Comments
by chairdr May 9, 2009 1:43 PM EDT
Concur with Gov. Granholm pick for Supreme Court.
Reply to this comment
by gunownerdan May 7, 2009 1:18 PM EDT
I doubt you will see that from an Obama appointee.
Posted by endurorob

True, but I have hope for a change.
Reply to this comment
by endurorob May 7, 2009 12:21 PM EDT
Anyone who agrees with the Heller decision will be good for me!
Posted by gunownerdan at 9:19 AM : May 7, 2009

I doubt you will see that from an Obama appointee.
Reply to this comment
by gunownerdan May 7, 2009 12:19 PM EDT
Anyone who agrees with the Heller decision will be good for me!
Reply to this comment
by ghwab1949 May 7, 2009 11:26 AM EDT
The most qualified person should be nominated. Cass Sunstein.
Reply to this comment
by impeachbhb May 7, 2009 11:14 AM EDT
Obama needs to put a married, gay , female, black, justice with no law degree on the Supreme Court.
This would make all of his supporters happy.
Reply to this comment
by lomtevas May 7, 2009 10:41 AM EDT
It's not the experience in judging cases that is needed as much as experience taking and trying cases. I also question the "brilliance" needed to perform subjective assessments of facts and then applying law to the facts. Is "brilliance" the ability to listen to a witness and understand what the witness is saying? I doubt any of these candidates can do that.
Reply to this comment
by endurorob May 7, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
Oooooh.....your racism is showing.

Only republiCONS want the "old white boys' club" to continue to dominate the SCOTUS, as we could see with the bushevik picks.
Posted by evilbusheviks at 7:17 AM : May 7, 2009

My racism is showing. I am saying it should be based on ability not ethnicity or sex. Those that think etnicity or sex should be a consideration are the ones displaying ism's.
Posted by endurorob at 7:29 AM : May 7, 2009


Sorry, forgot the ?

My racism is showing?
Reply to this comment
by endurorob May 7, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
Oooooh.....your racism is showing.

Only republiCONS want the "old white boys' club" to continue to dominate the SCOTUS, as we could see with the bushevik picks.
Posted by evilbusheviks at 7:17 AM : May 7, 2009

My racism is showing. I am saying it should be based on ability not ethnicity or sex. Those that think etnicity or sex should be a consideration are the ones displaying ism's.
Reply to this comment
by Trust_me_ May 7, 2009 8:49 AM EDT
Remember Anita Hill?

The shirt sayed He Lied !

As I remember it was a battle about whether or not Clarance sexually abused her and was still going into the court!

LOL
Reply to this comment
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