Possible Supreme Court nominees

Elena Kagan, Harvard University law school dean. Obama chose Elena Kagan to be solicitor general, the administration’s lawyer before the court. But she has yet to argue a case.  (Kathleen Dooher / Harvard University via Associated Press)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh. Koh, Yale Law School dean, is an outspoken advocate of human rights and international law and one of the most vocal critics of the Bush administration’s approach to the detention and trial of terrorism suspects.  (Donald Stampfli / Associated Press)

Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  (Jason Doiy / The Recorder via Associated Press)

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears. She was the first African-American woman to serve as Superior Court Judge in Georgia and in 1992 she became the first woman and the youngest person ever to serve on Georgia’s Supreme Court.  (Ric Feld / Associated Press)

Judge Kim Wardlaw, left, of the 9th Circuit Court in California.  (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)