KAGAN TO BE SWORN IN SATURDAY

Elena Kagan will be sworn in as the 112th Justice of the United States Supreme Court this Saturday. Kagan, now the former Solicitor General of the United States, was confirmed to the Court by a vote of 63 to 37. We expect this event to make little to no impact as to the Court's jurisprudence as Kagan is replacing Justice Stevens, the most progressive of our Supreme Court Justices.

US SUPREME COURT DENIES BLAGOJJEVICH REQUEST FOR TRIAL DELAY

Justice Stevens has denied the former Illinois Governor's request that his pending federal corruption trial be delayed. Blago's lawyers had asked for a delay on the basis that decisions, in unrelated cases, are pending that may impact the constitutionality of the charges that Blago is facing.

This denial was made without comment after it had already been denied by both the District Court and Circuit Court of Appeals.

KAGAN MEETING WITH LAW MAKERS

Nominee Elena Kagan is reportedly meeting with members of the Senate in regards to her upcoming nomination hearings. While we expect that Kagan will be easily confirmed, we also expect various politicians to attempt a scoring of political points by attacking Kagan on various issues.

KAGAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE SUPREME COURT

It is being reported that President Obama will nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be the next Justice on the United States Supreme Court. A nomination is is necessary due to the pending retirement of John Paul Stevens.

Given the ease with which Justices are confirmed, it is highly likely that we will now have three female Justices on the Court for the first time.

DIANE WOOD INTERVIEWS WITH OBAMA

It is being reported that Diane Wood has recently met with President Obama to interview for the Supreme Court vacancy. A seat on the Court is coming open due to the upcoming retirement of Justice Stevens.

This firm expects Wood to be the nominee given her past relationship with President Obama in Chicago.

POTENTIAL NOMINEE: JENNIFER GRANHOLM

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is on the reported short list of people being considered to replace the retiring Justice Stevens.

Granholm, a former beauty queen, is a naturalized United States citizen. She graduated from Harvard Law School and later became Attorney General of Michigan. Granholm, the first female Governor of Michigan, has worked towards diversifying Michigan's economy due to the decline in Michigan manufacturing.

Granholm has no judicial experience. This is not uncommon as former Chief Justice Earl Warren never served as a Judge before his appointment to the Supreme Court.

POTENTIAL NOMINEE: ELENA KAGAN

Elena Kagan is one of the people reportedly being considered for the United States Supreme Court. The pending opening on the high court is due to the upcoming retirement of Justice Stevens.

Kagan is the current Solicitor General of the United States and is the first woman to hold the post. She is a graduate of Harvard and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Kagan served as an Associate White House Counsel under President Clinton and is the first female Dean in the history of Harvard Law.

Kagan has never served as Judge and, accordingly, it is difficult to determine what her judicial philosophy would be. Given that she, like many law professors, has supported the banning of military recruiters from law school campuses (due to the military ban preventing homosexuals from serving in the armed forces), it is likely she would be a progressive minded Judge.

POTENTIAL NOMINEE: DIANE WOOD

Judge Diane Wood is one of the names being mentioned as President Obama's likely Supreme Court nominee. A nomination has become necessary due to the pending retirement of Justice Stevens. Wood was previously suggested as a possible replacement to Justice Souter. Souter, instead, was replaced with Justice Sotomayer.

Wood graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1975. She clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun. She has taught at both Georgetown and the University of Chicago Law School. She also worked in government positions is both Democratic and and Republican administrations.

Appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995, Wood was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. As an appellate Judge, her voting record has supported decisions which restricted abortion protesters. She has also upheld a broad reading of the power bestowed upon Congress by the commerce clause of the United States Constitution.

SIX WOMEN ON OBAMA'S SHORT LIST

ABC News is reporting that President Obama's short list to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens includes ten people, six of whom are women. The list reportedly includes Elana Kagan, Merrick Garland, Dianne Wood, Jennifer Granholm, Leah Ward Sears, Janet Napolitano, Martha Minow, Sidney Thomas, Cass Sunstein, and Sheldon Whitehouse.

The White House is denying rumors that Secretary of State Clinton may be tapped for the post.

SENATOR HATCH SUGGESTS THAT HILLARY CLINTON MAY BE NOMINATED TO COURT

Senator Hatch (R-Utah) has suggested that president Obama may nominate Hillary Clinton to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. This writer views such a nomination as highly unlikely. A nomination of Secretary Clinton would make the nomination process far more politically charged than normal. The politics of such a nomination, combined with the fact that 2010 is an election year, would make such a nomination surprising.

JUSTICE STEVENS TO RETIRE

Justice John Paul Stevens has announced that he will retire when the US Supreme Court finishes work this summer. Stevens, who is nearly 90 years old, was nominated by President Nixon and is a solid progressive in regards to protecting the rights of the accused.

Stevens' retirement is unlikely to change the Court's jurisprudence as President Obama will almost certainly appoint another progressive Judge to replace him.

JUSTICE STEVENS' DEPARTURE APPEARS IMMINENT

Justice John Paul Stevens has given additional signals that he may be retiring. In a recent interview, Stevens stated that he would retire during President Obama's first term. Justice Stevens has also indicated that he only hired one law clerk for the coming term.

These combined facts make it appear likely that Stevens will retire very shortly. Given the current political climate, Republicans are likely to politicize the nomination process of Stevens' successor.

JUSTICE STEVENS HINTS AT RETIREMENT

AFP is reporting that Justice Stevens is hinting at retirement. The Justice, during an interview, acknowledged that he has hired only one law clerk for the coming term; a sign that he may be considering retirement. Also, Justice Stevens stated during the interview that he will certainly retire within the next three years. Stevens, who is nearly 90 year of age, was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Ford.

Stevens is considered a solid progressive as to criminal issues and typically votes to uphold the rights of the accused.