Candidates to Replace Justice Stevens Taking Shape

President Barack Obama has narrowed his list of potential replacements for retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens to about 10 candidates, the Associated Press reports. And there is at least one new name to add. No, it’s not Hillary Clinton, as was rumored Monday, but rather Judge Sidney Thomas of the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Thomas resides in Billing, Mont. and was first nominated to the federal branch in July 1995 by President Bill Clinton. He was confirmed six months later on a voice vote and without controversy, the AP reports. The story notes Thomas has western roots as he was born in Montana, earned his B.A. from Montana State and a law degree from the University of Montana. He worked in private practice in Billings and was an adjunct community college law professor before becoming a federal judge.

The other six candidates, as confirmed by the AP, are: Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, federal appeals court judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

The rumor of Hillary Clinton being a candidate for the Supreme Court was apparently started yesterday by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, but the White House quickly ended the speculation. Press secretary Robert Gibbs told the media that Obama “is going to keep her as his secretary of state.”