Some Non-SCOTUS Nomination Rumors

Article III Groupie thanks the many readers who responded to her recent discovery requests concerning the passing of Chief Justice Rehnquist. A3G is a little embarrassed, since answers to several of her inquiries could have been found in the morning papers and recent blogosphere commentary. Guess it serves her right for blogging before scanning the major newspaper headlines, going down her blogroll, and having her morning coffee!

A3G will share what she learned from her readers shortly. For now, however, she would like to take a break from the never-ending news coverage of former Chief Justice Rehnquist and future Chief Justice Roberts. As chief conspirator Eugene Volokh recently observed, "[o]ne of the great things about blogging is that you don't need a news hook; you can write about whatever catches your eye." And right now, despite the manifest greatness of these two jurists, A3G's eyes are pretty darn tired of Messrs. Rehnquist and Roberts (even if judicial hottie Roberts is easy on the eyes).

In light of the intense media and interest-group focus on the two Supreme Court vacancies,* it's easy to forget that there are courts in this country besides the Supreme Court. And some of those courts also have seats that currently need, or will soon be needing, nominees.

Now, A3G realizes that non-SCOTUS judicial nominations won't be acted upon until all the Supreme Court stuff is sorted out. But please, indulge her -- "All Rehnquist and Roberts, All the Time" is getting a bit exhausting!

So here are some rumors -- A3G repeats, rumors, and therefore unofficial, unsubstantiated, and not all that credible -- concerning some non-SCOTUS judicial nominations:

1. According to a UTR source, Stephanie Seymour -- the Tenth Circuit judge, not the lingerie-sporting hottie -- "will assume senior status this fall. An Oklahoma district judge will get her seat."

Although Judge Seymour is not to be confused with the Victoria's Secret model, she is a judicial hottie who has been previously described in this blog as "quite attractive" and "a very handsome woman." And even though Judge Seymour has not graced the cover of any underwear catalogs -- at least as far as UTR knows -- some of her fashion choices are noteworthy. Back when she was the the circuit's Chief Judge, Stephanie Seymour showed up at a court picnic in a form-fitting T-shirt that read: "The Big Kahuna." This led one Tenth Circuit clerk to quip, "Now I know what a kahuna is!"

2. Back in this post, A3G speculated about possible nominees to the Third Circuit seat vacated by Michael Chertoff -- who must be missing the Article III ivory tower right now, considering the post-Katrina flak he has been taking as Secretary of Homeland Security. Here are some updates on the search for his replacement (from a few different UTR correspondents, and somewhat conflicting):

(a) Judge William Martini "is the front-runner right now. The White House has told him that the job's basically his if he wants it."

(b) But is it really a done deal? Apparently Judge Jose Linares "recently went down to Washington to talk to people down there about the Third Circuit slot."

(c) And here's a new name to add to the mix: "A3G, your list of possible Chertoff replacements is incomplete. Michael Chagares -- the former head of the civil division in the U.S. Attorney's Office, who is now a partner at Cole Schotz (a major N.J. law firm) -- is also in the running for the Chertoff seat."

If you can confirm, clarify, or cast doubt upon any of the rumors reported above, or if you have any other information about federal judicial nominations, please email A3G. As always, corrections to incorrect intelligence -- e.g., "What are you smoking, Groupie? You make The Crazy Lady look sane!" -- are especially welcome. Thanks!

* Yes, Justice O'Connor's seat technically isn't vacant yet, since her resignation doesn't take effect until her successor is confirmed -- but c'mon, you know what A3G means...

Comments

The info on Judge Seymour is consistent with what I had heard through (unspecified but reliable) mutual Tulsa friends last fall. If not this year, then very soon. How 'bout that for unnamed sources?

[TO]

...though I suppose Nygaard and Van Antwerpen are the "Pennsylvania seats," and all of the names on your list are NJ lawyers

[TO]

One possible reason that so many names are circulating is that there are actually 2 vacancies on the Third Circuit and a third is likely to pop up soon.

Chertoff is the head of DHS, Nygaard has recently taken senior status, and Judge Van Antwerpen says on his FLCIS clerkship vacancy announcement that he will be taking senior status soon. It may turn out that almost all of the names you're floating wind up on the Third Circuit soon.