Or "Swap Sonia for Souter", whatever.
--Since one isn't sure Kos is a practicing lawyer, one can't recommend him to replace Justice Souter, but it seems that Judge Sonia Sotomayor may have some points of recommendation or interest: born in the Bronx (whoo-ha!), some decent schools such as Princeton University and Yale Law School, moderation over extremism, time as a prosecutor, elevated up the bench by BOTH parties (Bush I and Clinton), over 16 years as a federal judge (most on the 2nd Circuit appeals court out New York way), and a member of at least two underrepresented or never-represented groups on SCOTUS (women, Latina/os).
Also, as noted by Dan Levin last night in Obama should pick Sotomayor for Supreme Court, SoSoto (as one might call her) has overcome the challenge of diabetes, which is inspiring, regardless of your politics.
But does everybody like SS? (suspense...and answer below)
Even if she isn't perfect (cf. the various controversies about her, courtesy of Jeffrey Rosen and others), she may not seem nearly as iffy as her fellow Yalie, Clarence Thomas (!); and if CJOTUS John Roberts can flub the Presidential Oath with Obama, maybe SoSoto doesn't need to be 110% perfect herself...when she has so many good and diverse points to her credit. But your mileage may vary, and there are many qualified (and unqualified) candidates.
--Now as for some sizzling Supreme Court gossip I was able to witness in person recently, re the controversial Chief Judge of the Nation's biggest federal appeals court: see the account by "Clerquette" on the legal gossip blog "Underneath Their Robes", Monday Round-Up,
...One Groupie from the Eureka! State wrote to tell us about a Judicial Sight-ation. While few things make Clerquette and A3G happier, this one was a particular blogress-pleaser, since it involved A3G favorite Alex Kozinski (of the sprawling, lambent Ninth Circuit). Our tipster saw Judge Kozinski's magic act at the recent "First Annual Conference on Federal and State Appeals," in Los Angeles, and was appropriately delighted by the his speech, entitled "The Wrong Stuff," which addressed the fine points of "how to lose an appeal." It was, apparently, the best thing uttered by a California Superhottie in recent memory.
Our tipster tells us that a crowd of swooning fans (perhaps Article III Groupies and paparazzi yelling "Over here, Judge! Who are you wearing??") shouted to Kozinski as he exited stage left right, asking him when he expected to be called upon to consider filling the seat being vacated by Justice Souter. On information and belief, his Superhotness responded to say that he had already politely declined such an offer from BHO -- in order to appear at said bar function.
At the risk of stating the obvious, Clerquette would like to point out that Judge Kozinski's response to the above inquiry demonstrates a textbook-worthy command of social etiquette. Indeed, in addition to his brilliant legal mind and documented quantum of hotness, Judge Kozinski is clearly aware that etiquette consists not only of starting from the outside fork and working one's way in, but of making others feel special. Though we're reasonably certain that Judge Kozinski will not be appearing on the SCOTUS Leaderboard, A3G and I are nonetheless charmed by his gracious implication that nothing - not even a call to duty from POTUS himself - could keep him from a social commitment. ...
I'm not going to say who the "Groupie from the Eureka! State" was, but you never know.....and there was only one person I noted, not a crowd, who asked the Koz if Obama had called him yet to offer Souter's super seat. (Though I did attend that event, and saw another often-mentioned possibility to supplant Souter, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw, speaking there. Whether she smiled at me as she walked up the left aisle with her aide after her speech, I leave it to you to guess...)