Sometime soon, President Obama is expected to name a successor to Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Here's a roundup of recent reporting and speculation.
CBS News' Jan Crawford profiles some of the primary contenders: Elena Kagan, Diane Wood, Merrick Garland and Sidney Thomas.
Republican sources concede that any of these candidates would be confirmed without a filibuster, based on what is now known about them.
CNN's Bill Mears offers his take; his list of 4 finalists mirrors Crawford's.
A story in yesterday's Washington Post says the President could announce his decision any day, but speculates it may wait until Vice President Biden, a longtime Judiciary Committee member, returns from overseas next week.
An AP report indicates the legacy of Stevens will play a role in the selection.
"You can't replace someone's 34 years on the court, but you are mindful of the fact that he was a leader on the court, and you want someone who can provide that kind of spark and leadership – if not immediately, then over time," senior White House adviser David Axelrod told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. "He senses that responsibility."
