April 9, 2010 | 1:56 pm

Kagan, Garland on Obama’s list for Stevens’ replacement

Posted by JewishJournal.com

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Federal Judge Merrick Garland and U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan

The recent announcement of Justice John Paul Stevens’ retirement from the Supreme Court has brought increasing speculation as to who might fill his seat. Of the top candidates on Obama’s list are two Jewish contenders: Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal Judge Merrick Garland.

Here are few stories that highlight the religious and political implications involved in selecting the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice:

Supreme Court May Soon Lack Protestant Justices
NPR

With U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens talking openly about retirement, attention has focused on the “who” — as in who is on President Obama’s short list of potential nominees. But almost nobody has noticed that when Justice Stevens retires, it is entirely possible that there will be no Protestant justices on the court for the first time ever.

More.

Kagan’s Nomination for Supreme Court Seat Is Likely Prospect
The Harvard Crimson

In the face of Justice John Paul Stevens’ impending retirement, the nomination of former Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan for the open seat on the Supreme Court has become a likely prospect.

More.

Kagan, Wood Head List of Likely Court Nominees
CBS

(CBS/ AP)  Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that should Justice John Paul Stevens retire, a nominee would be offered shortly thereafter.

More.

List of Jewish United States Supreme Court justices
Wikipedia

This is a list of all Jewish people who have served as Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. The first Jewish Supreme Court Justice was Louis Brandeis, in a contentious nomination. Towards the end of his career on the Supreme Court, Brandeis was joined by a second Jewish Justice, Benjamin Cardozo.

More.