Supreme Court

SCOTUS: Short List

Flap previously reported a shortlist of possible appointees to the Supreme Court: U.S. Supreme Court: Short List Begins

Judge Michael W. McConnell on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Judge Edith Hollan Jones, who practiced law in Texas and now sits on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Samuel Alito, a 3rd U.S. Circuit judge from Philadelphia.

J. Michael Luttig of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, considered one of the most conservative judges on the federal bench.

J. Harvie Wilkinson III, also on the 4th Circuit, who is considered more moderate than Judge Luttig but could be opposed by liberals over his opposition of affirmative action.

Emilio Garza of the 5th Circuit, who would give Mr. Bush the chance to name the first Hispanic justice, but whose conservative views on abortion could prompt liberal outcry.

Some additonal considerations:

John Roberts, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (appointed 2003).

Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States.

Edith Brown Clement, U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

The President has an outstanding pool of candidates.

Flap handicaps Luttig, McConnell and Roberts as the likely nominees for this first appoinment.