According to the AP, Obama has a shortlist with 6 potential SCOTUS nominees
Among those under consideration are California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Appeals Court judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Pamela Wood.
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Apparently, the source says "other" candidates are also being considered.
The list is disappointing in a number of ways. Perhaps this is a trial balloon to show that Obama is considering a "political person." But I think Granholm and Napolitano are risky picks. Neither has written much on constitutional law. Obama cannot be sure how they would rule on important questions of civil rights, choice, voting rights, etc.
California Governor Earl Warren was a hughe disappointment to Eisenhower. Deputy Attorney General Byron White was a huge disappointment to JFK's followers.
Carlos Moreno is great, and he is probably going to rule in favor of gay marriage. But he is over 60, and his rulings will turn any confirmation hearing into a debate on gay marriage.
Obama knows Kagan well, so he should probably pick her, if he is comfortable with her. Wood has a solid reputation as does Sotomayor. As Sotomayor has been vetted, questions about her temperament have arisen.
It would be nice to see Pamela Karlan and Kathleen Sullivan added to the list.