WP: Obama Starts to Meet with Court Contenders

[usregimechange]

Former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor (L) talks with U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan during a forum on "Striking the Balance: Fair and Independent Courts in a New Era" at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)


President Obama has started to meet with Supreme Court candidates and has already sat down with Judge Diane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, believed to be among a handful of top contenders.

Wood arrived in Washington D.C. yesterday to attend the Georgetown University Law Center's Sandra Day O'Connor Project on the State of the Judiciary. O'Connor is attending the event as well, of course, along with Justices Stephen G. Breyer. Retiring Justice David H. Souter is scheduled to give the luncheon address.

But much of the buzz was about two others in the room -- Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Wood -- who are said to be on President Obama's short list of candidates to take Souter's seat.

Wood, of Chicago, said she had long planned to attend the conference, which examines the independence of the judiciary. But she ended the chat when asked whether she would be meeting with anyone from the White House on her trip here.

"No, no, I'm not answering any questions on that," she said with a laugh before moving on. An individual who is familiar with the vetting process said the meeting had already taken place, as part of a series of sessions with potential nominees that are expected to continue in the coming days.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/05/20/a_gathering_of_justices.html

:popcorn: