LANSING ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been discussed for a number of appointments by President Barack Obama, and her name surfaced again as U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens officially announced he would retire later this year. Granholm has indicated the only possible reason she might not finish her term as governor is if Obama nominated her for the Supreme Court.
But, while Granholm did not indicate she would not accept an appointment to the high court, she was also not seen as being on a short list for that appointment.
“First and foremost, Governor Granholm believes we should pause to recognize Justice Stevens for his dedicated and exemplary years of service on the Court,” said spokesperson Megan Brown. “The governor has maintained that to be nominated by the president to serve on the Supreme Court would be a privilege, but there are many worthy potential nominees, and this is a process that begins and ends with the White House.”
But, from one former attorney general to another, Frank Kelley thought she would be the perfect candidate. “I’ve personally told her myself that I felt she was qualified to be on the Supreme Court,” he said. “An honors graduate from Berkeley, an honors graduate from Harvard Law School, she’s certainly got as high a qualifications as anybody else who’s ever served on the high court.”
Kelley said he has discussed Granholm’s future with her, but declined to comment whether she would be interested in the post or what other plans she has once she leaves office.
The Washington Post reported the likely frontrunners are Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal appellate court judges Diane Wood of Chicago and Merrick Garland of Washington.
Stevens’ retirement will give Obama his second appointment to the high court.
Granholm was vetted as a possible nominee by the Obama administration when former Justice David Souter retired, but Obama selected federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
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