Who is on the shortlist to replace Antonin Scalia? CNN Takes a look.
Paul Watford
-African-American
-48 years old
-might be a struggle to confirm since he was only confirmed 61-34 to the appellate court in 2012.
Merrick Garland
-clerked for Justice Brennan
-63 years old, which might be too old
-not a transformative or historic pick
Jacqueline Nguyen
-born in Vietnam
-51 years old
-would be historical appointment
-approved by Senate to appellate court 91-3
David Barron
-48 years old
-controversial figure, argued for legality of droning American terrorism suspects overseas
-but has a body of writings very critical of the Bush Administration
-was barely confirmed to appellate court, final vote 53-45
Jane Kelly
-51 years old
-Confirmed unanimously by Senate to circuit court
-went to law school with Obama
-doesn't have a long established written record to establish positions
Loretta Lynch
-56 years old
-current Attorney General
-struggled to get a confirmation vote for AG
-might be too tied to Obama Administration for Republicans to swallow
The so called "Nuclear Option Judges" -- these are all judges approved by the Senate under Harry Reid's change of filibuster rules, the so-called "nuclear option"
Patricia Millett
-52 years old
-Has appeared before the Supreme Court over 30 times
Robert Wilkins
-African-American
-52 years old
-He and his family were plaintiffs in a famous Maryland civil rights lawsuit in 1992 that became family known as the "driving while black" case.
Cornelia Pillard
-54 years old
-Former Georgetown law professor
-would represent a more liberal choice
Senators
Amy Klobuchar
-55 years old
-Senator of Minnesota
Cory Booker
-46 years old
Senator of New Jersey
Sheldon Whitehouse
-60 years old
Senator of Rhode Island
Withdrawn from Consideration:
Kamala Harris said she would not want the job. She is currently running for Senate in California.
Source
Tbh I'd rather not see anyone 60 or over. This is just bad strategy.
I'd be surprised if they picked someone who wasn't a judge, but the media is pushing a narrative that a Senator might have a better shot at getting confirmed. Joe Biden said on Rachel Maddow that he'd never say no outright but he has no interest in the role.