Axelrod Discusses Next SCOTUS Pick

[usregimechange]

Axelrod did not go into detail as to which specific finalists he was referring to, but in an earlier briefing Tuesday after the announcement, the White House said the other frontrunners who had a personal interview with Obama were Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Judge Diane Wood.

http://ninthjustice.nationaljournal.com/

[liberalpragmatist]

1. I like Diane Wood a lot, but she probably has lost her shot

I was kinda hoping for her this round, because I figured Sotomayor or another Hispanic justice could get picked next time around. Wood has a fantastic reputation as a legal rock star and excellent writer. Plus, she would represent academic diversity on the court - her law degree is from U. Texas and her specialty was in antitrust law.

That being said, she's also nearing 60. I suspect that by the time the next opening comes - I would guess Stevens in 2011 - she'll be seen as too old.

Kagan is very much a top possibility and I suspect Obama may also tap a politician - Napolitano or Granholm or Deval Patrick - as one of his picks; possibly his third pick, following Ginsberg's likely retirement, which I suspect will come either in 2011 or 2012 or, if it looks likely Obama will win a second term, then in 2013 or later.