This just broke a few minutes ago. MSNBC and the Washington Post are both reporting that Obama will tell us who he's picked as his first Supreme Court nominee this morning at 10:15 AM Eastern. Sounds like NBC got the scoop:
President Barack Obama will name his nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice David Souter at 10:15 am ET on Monday, an adviser told NBC News.CNN just announced this news, too.
Earlier today, CBS News posted this brief backgrounder on potential choices:
The Supreme Court selection process is expected to be intense, even though the White House and Senate are controlled by Democrats:CNN also mentioned the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.
# Appeals Judge Diane Wood may be asked why she upheld an injunction barring anti-abortion protesters from blockading abortion clinics, in a case brought by the National Organization for Women.
# Former Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan would likely face questions over her objections to campus military recruiters, stemming from her disagreement with U.S. policy on gays serving in the military.
# U.S. Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor could be forced to explain siding with the city of New Haven, Conn., in a reverse discrimination case brought by white firefighters.
# Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears may face scrutiny from all sides on gay-rights issues. She ruled with the court in throwing out Georgia's hate-crimes law in 2004 as "unconstitutionally vague"; reinstating Georgia's gay marriage ban in 2006; declining to hear an appeal from a biological mother who wanted to terminate the parental rights of her former lesbian partner in 2007, a move viewed as a victory by gay-rights advocates; and tossing out Georgia's anti-sodomy law.
