First Read has Napolitano on SCOTUS shortlist.

[Perky]

Not a bad choice... but kind of bummed since she could have taken on McCain for the Senate Seat.


*** The SCOTUS shortlist? According to a couple of sources in the know, there appears to be a working short list of about six names for President Obama’s Supreme Court pick. The co-frontrunners (in no particular order): Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Merrick Garland of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Obviously, folks can slice this list all they want: Five are women; one’s Hispanic; one’s male; and all are in their late 40s or early 50s, except two (Wood, 58, and Garland, 56). Keep an eye on Napolitano. For this pick, it would be surprising if Obama named someone he didn't either know well or trust personally. Wood, Kagan, and Napolitano all fit this bill (Wood taught at the University of Chicago with Obama, and Kagan and Napolitano already have top slots in the administration). As for Napolitano, remember that she endorsed Obama early on (despite Emily’s List pressure to do otherwise). And from people familiar with the president's thinking, he's been as impressed with Napolitano as anyone in his cabinet. They click. That matters....

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/11/1928014.aspx

[enid602]

1. Janet

She does have a sort of judicial air about her. A proven liberal with a history of winning despite conservative peers and constituents. Could work.

[madaboutharry]

2. I would love to see Janet Napolitano on the SC.

She is really brilliant.

[HamdenRice]

3. NPR said he wants a non-judge, non-academic, like Earl Warren

I think that's actually a really good choice. It isn't as some have implied that he wants someone without a legal background. But he wants someone rooted mostly in the "real world."

This show (don't remember which) also made a pretty brilliant point: the main qualification for the next judge is persuading one man -- Justice Kennedy.

When Kennedy votes with us it's a semi, quasi liberal court; when Kennedy votes against us, it's a conservative court.

99% of the job until the next justice retires, is lobbying Kennedy. That requires a politician/administrator.

Napolitano sounds about right.

[azmouse]

4. Janet would do great at anything she tried.

I was kinda hoping she'd be our first female President in 2016 though.