Georgia Judge Leah Sears: The Next U.S. Supreme Court Justice?
Saturday, May 9th, 2009Georgia Judge Leah Sears: The Next U.S. Supreme Court Justice? Tell Us What You Think.
By Maynard Eaton
President Barack Obama may be about to replace one retiring Supreme Court justice with another retiring Supreme Court jurist. Both U.S. Supreme Court judge David Souter and Georgia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears are leaving the bench. Political cognoscenti say that Justice Sears could be in line to take Souter’s seat. Reportedly, the 53-year-old Sears who is leaving after 17 years on the states highest court is on the President’s short list of potential nominees. Sears is said to be a top choice since she’s one of only two black women being considered for the prestigious post. There has never been an African American female U.S. Supreme Court justice “If it were up to me I would appoint myself [to the U.S. Supreme Court],” Chief Justice Sears told this reporter during a “NEWSMAKERS” Live interview just one week before Souter’s resignation. At the time, Sears said she would “definitely” be interested if the opportunity ever presented itself. Now, she is staring that opportunity in the face.