The Supreme Court Short List
EmailKnowledgeable sources tell ABC News that the fewer than 10 possible US Supreme Court nominees on President Obama’s short list include the following:
1. Solicitor General Elena Kagan
2. Judge Merrick Garland (DC Circuit Court)
3. Judge Diane Wood (7th circuit, Chicago)
4. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D)
5. Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears
6. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
7. Harvard Law School dean Martha Minow
8. Judge Sidney Thomas (9th circuit, in San Francisco)
There are others whom the president might consider who aren’t on this list – White House official Cass Sunstein, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, is being pushed by some on the Hill – but the above are on the short list, sources say.
- jpt
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Napolitano? You must be joking. Don’t know a lick about any of the others.
Posted by: George | April 13, 2010, 7:12 am 7:12 am
All this is much ado about nothing.Whoever replaces Stevens is not going to change the philosophical (ideological ) complexion of the supreme court.Just a take a look at Sonia Sotomayor.
Posted by: Zubriana Dean | April 13, 2010, 8:10 am 8:10 am
One thing’s for sure….it ain’t gonna be a white guy…
Posted by: LongT | April 13, 2010, 8:35 am 8:35 am
Whoever President Obama picks will be met with right wing hate and mockery. Don’t need a crystal ball for that!
Posted by: Stanley | April 13, 2010, 8:36 am 8:36 am
“Napolitano? You must be joking. Don’t know a lick about any of the others.” – George
Let me enlighten you George.
The only one worse than Napolitano would be Jennifer Granholm.
How could anyone in their right minds consider either of these two ladies?
Have you ever heard either one try to talk and answer questions coherently?
It’s a skill neither one has and that is a little window into what type of minds they possess.
Posted by: Noz | April 13, 2010, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Seriously, not even a mention of Harold Koh? That’s a disappointment. If Thomas and Wood are the most liberal one’s on the list, it’s going to be a way-moderate nominee. Very disappointing.
Posted by: Owen Truesdell | April 13, 2010, 8:47 am 8:47 am
Based on Obama’s performance to date, his selection for the Court will undoubtedly be just as poor.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | April 13, 2010, 8:55 am 8:55 am
Folks, there is no ‘best’ pick for Supreme Court Justice, just as there is no best pick for any other job. As long as the President is choosing from a list of the 10 – 20 most qualified, who he chooses is immaterial. When someone makes it into a list of top 20 for any job, the differences between any two on the list are negligible. We are a nation of over 300 million people, so the pool of qualified folks in any career is huge.
To those folks who are disturbed by the thought of a black woman being a Supreme Court Justice, think very carefully if this is indicating some latent (or not!) racism. And if a bit of racism is lurking, gets some help from a professional in therapy, or a pastor, but get help. When a person hates without knowing the individual but just hates anyone in a certain group, that is illogical, unhealthy and leads to unhappiness. Get help!
Posted by: Lydia | April 13, 2010, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Can we please just get rid of Obama for doing a horrible job (really noone wants health care, but he is acting like our mother and shoving the vegatables down our throat when we really just want the meat …Jobs) he can keep his “Change”
Posted by: Ashley Vodi | April 13, 2010, 9:21 am 9:21 am
shoving the vegatables down our throat when we really just want the meat …
———–
Many of us don’t need vegetables shoved down our throats– we realize they’re better for us. What we’re tired of is the folks who insist we can all live on bologna alone.
Bologna and sour grapes w(h)ine. What a diet.
Posted by: There is no Planet B | April 13, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Really? Granholm? you HAVE to be kidding!
Posted by: Bob | April 13, 2010, 9:53 am 9:53 am
I just checked out Martha Minow, she’d be a mistake.
So that means 4, 6, and 7 are out.
If I have some more time I’ll check on #3, Woods next.
Posted by: Noz | April 13, 2010, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Actually, Zubriana – all of these selections would likely shift the ideological makeup of the courts to the right, so quibbling over specific verdicts and trying to suss out where these candidates stand is work worth doing. But, yes, whoever Obama selects will anger the right. Look at the people on this blog! Angry already and he hasn’t even telegraphed a direction. Yes, it is unfortunate that the job market hasn’t yet improved but if you think this is something Obama is unaware of, something he is ignoring, or something with which he is satisfied, then you have not been using your time as an unemployed person to educate yourself about our country. Perhaps start there, Ashley Vodi. People who are civically minded and informed make attractive employee prospects.
Posted by: Kyra | April 13, 2010, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Perhaps the next Supreme Court justice should be: Barack Obama
Posted by: Shanghai 49 | April 13, 2010, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Sheldon Whitehouse will and should never happen. The universal opinion from those who worked with him at Edwards & Angell is that he is both lazy and intellectually challenged. There is no way the guy is going to get the job. He is a moron. He is where he is because of privilege, nothing else.
Posted by: eapdlaw | April 13, 2010, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Granholm is a joke. She has a paper trail a mile long of lies and ridiculous statements, like when she melodramatically vowed during her State of the State address in 2006 that the people of Michigan would be “blown away” by all her wondrous promises coming true. We were “blown away” indeed – people fleeing the state due to the 15.2% unemployment we have in Michigan. She is a hyper-partisan, clueless buffoon. She has been totally inept as Governor.
Posted by: Jan | April 13, 2010, 11:56 am 11:56 am
i like granholm was born in canada and have lived in this wonderfull country for 27 years and have seen both types of government and believe me i much prefer the us government to canadas socilist type of government she has been a disaster as governor here in michigan i am sure granholm still has socialist tendencies and would be a great far left liberal on the court something we must avoid
Posted by: gary | April 13, 2010, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
I am pulling for Cass Sunstein just so we can watch Glenn “leave your church” Beck’s head explode.
Posted by: Dap | April 13, 2010, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
To those folks who are disturbed by the thought of a black woman being a Supreme Court Justice, think very carefully if this is indicating some latent (or not!) racism. And if a bit of racism is lurking, gets some help from a professional in therapy, or a pastor, but get help. When a person hates without knowing the individual but just hates anyone in a certain group, that is illogical, unhealthy and leads to unhappiness. Get help!
Posted by: Lydia
I love the smell of sanctimony in the morning.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | April 13, 2010, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
sanc·ti·mo·ny–noun
1. pretended, affected, or hypocritical religious devotion, righteousness, etc.
…
Nope, Foghorn Leghorn’s comment still doesn’t make sense. Would you care to put your accusation into standard English rather than right wing radio shorthand?
Posted by: jhw539 | April 13, 2010, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
I love the smell of sanctimony in the morning.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Apr 13, 2010 12:49:07 PM
_____________________________________
Pretty sanctimonious statement Foghorn . . .
Posted by: tierra | April 13, 2010, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Can we please just get rid of Obama for doing a horrible job (really noone wants health care,
Ashley Vodi | Apr 13, 2010 9:21:58 AM
No one? Even dropping the USA Today poll as an outlier, (keep Gallup, Rasmussen, Quinnipiac and CBS), the post passage numbers were 43 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed. Many opposed the bill because it did not have a public option (if anyone talks about “government run hospitals,” they are lying and taking you for an idiot) and prefer this bill over nothing.
No, a majority does not support this bill – many consider nothing better than just new regulations on still-profit-driven insurers. But your dismissal of 43% of the country as no one is breathtaking.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 13, 2010, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Foghorn Leghorn’s comment still doesn’t make sense. Would you care to put your accusation into standard English rather than right wing radio shorthand?
Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 13, 2010 12:56:40 PM
Personally, I think FL’s word of the day is “smell” and he or she is working it in there however possible. Example:
“I can smell right wingers. Their cold, black hearts emit a sulfurous odor. Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Apr 12, 2010 11:59:42 PM
I actually like that last one– explains what stinks (though typically I smell fear, and lots of it in its various forms.) LOL.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 13, 2010, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
But your dismissal of 43% of the country as no one is breathtaking.
Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 13, 2010 1:02:22 PM
(pssssst… they think people who disagree with them aren’t real people– but good points.)
Posted by: progressive mama | April 13, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Contrary to what the sunshine pumpers might have you believe, RCP has the current spread at 53-40 opposed to Obamacare.
When 53% voted for Obama in 2008 it was a mandate.
When 53% oppose Obamacare it is a ____ ?
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | April 13, 2010, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
When 53% voted for Obama in 2008 it was a mandate.
When 53% oppose Obamacare it is a ____ ?
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Apr 13, 2010 1:49:57 PM
_______________________________________
A poll . . .
The first is an election.
Posted by: tierra | April 13, 2010, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Sadly any Obama appointee will carry the burden of Obama’s public disrespect for the court with her or him.
Posted by: Miri | April 13, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Sadly any Obama appointee will carry the burden of Obama’s public disrespect for the court with her or him.
Miri | Apr 13, 2010 2:05:58 PM
At most, it was public disrespect for 5 of the 4 members of the court. And the official Supreme Court dissenting opinion was FAR harsher towards those 5 than anything Obama has ever said.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 13, 2010, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Jake, I used to really enjoy your posts. I lost interest about a month ago when you attempted to “clarify” the old article your wrote about karl rove. Too bad. I thought you might have been one of the good guys in the world of spin. What is it Jake? Are you hiding your contempt well, or are you truly middle of the road? I admit the GOP gives little to be interested in, but this current administration is laughable. I am not much of a praying person, but I am praying that this president is voted out come 2012. We will need to get someone (?) in to the office to restore our great Nation back to its standing of true freedom, understanding andPride of country.
Posted by: smb | April 13, 2010, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Just the hint of someone other than a white male getting appointed to the Supreme Court sends the Republican right into fits of outrage and indignation . .. cute.
Posted by: tierra | April 13, 2010, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
Just the hint of someone other than a white male getting appointed to the Supreme Court sends the Republican right into fits of outrage and indignation . .. cute.
Posted by: tierra | Apr 13, 2010 3:26:03 PM
Let’s make a deal. Since you only want someone because of their skin color and I want someone because they will uphold the constitution let’s get another Clarence Thomas or Clarisse Thomas. This way you feel good about having a black SCJ and I get someone who will uphold the Constitution not rewrite it.
Posted by: MoRacker | April 13, 2010, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
Just the hint of someone other than a white male getting appointed to the Supreme Court sends the Republican right into fits of outrage and indignation . .. cute.
Posted by: tierra |
Not as cute as sanctimonious pique.
How do you rationalize a Republican Rightist appointing the first female to the court in to your world view?
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | April 13, 2010, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
No, a majority does not support this bill – many consider nothing better than just new regulations on still-profit-driven insurers. But your dismissal of 43% of the country as no one is breathtaking.
Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 13, 2010 1:02:22 PM
Yes profit driven companies are horrible for society. Who do you think made that wimpy Prius you are driving? If you want another man ruling you go to China.
Posted by: MoRacker | April 13, 2010, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
How do you rationalize a Republican Rightist appointing the first female to the court in to your world view?
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Apr 13, 2010 3:54:36 PM
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I don’t have to . . . I’m not one of the Republican right posters on here going into fits of indignation or rage over the idea someone other than a white male might get appointed to the Supreme Court.
Posted by: tierra | April 13, 2010, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
Most of this list are just names that I have not resurched yet I like to hear some opinions concerning them as I go on line to form an opinion, but Janet Napolitano should have been fired whjen she stated that the system worked when the panty bombers bomb failed to go boomb she can’t possibly be considered for Supreme court where intelligence is required.
Posted by: earl | April 13, 2010, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
I’m betting on Harold Hou the former dean of the Yale Law School. He’s the most dangerous left wing radical Obama could imagine. He’s young and can cause permanent damage to this country for a long time. I’d love to see someone like Glenn Beck on the court. Unfortunately he does not hold a degree in law.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | April 14, 2010, 2:27 am 2:27 am
I’d love to see someone like Glenn Beck on the court. Unfortunately he does not hold a degree in law.
Posted by: Art Vandelay | Apr 14, 2010 2:27:35 AM
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Yeah, unfortunately the Supreme Court is based on law, not the ability to rant and froth.
Posted by: tierra | April 14, 2010, 11:38 am 11:38 am