Ethics

Handicapping the Supreme Court Nomination

By Ed Brayton

Obama is expected to announce his nominee to replace Justice Souter this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday. In the last week I've come to the conclusion that it's basically a toss up between two candidates: Elena Kagan, the current Solicitor General, and Judge Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Here's my reasoning.

1. I think Obama puts a premium on serious intellect and Kagan and Wood are head and shoulders above the other nominees on the short list in that regard, both enormously well respected legal scholars on both sides of the aisle.

2. I think Obama is going to want a nominee who will cost him as little political capital as possible to confirm and Kagan and Wood both fit the bill. Kagan has just gone through the confirmation process and Wood has the endorsement of top conservative legal scholars to help her through the process.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on May 26, 2009 (boomark / email).