The XX Factor: What women really think.

Does Souter's Replacement Have to Be a Woman?

Does Obama have to pick a woman to succeed Justice David Souter, who is reportedly retiring? I'm not convinced—if he picked a great black male judge, who would complain? But that's the conventional wisdom. And it sure would be nice if Ruth Bader Ginsburg weren't all by her lonesome up there. So below, a list of ten plausible women for Supreme Court justice. Also, a word about process. Inside the White House, Greg Craig and Dan Meltzer will be at the center. But don't forget Joe Biden. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he presided over more nominations than anyone else around (six, I think). His chief of staff, Ron Klain, also has all kinds of experience with nominees, in the White House, the Judiciary Committee, and the Justice Department. And as Rick Hasen points out, the Judiciary Committee will get a new ranking minority leader with Sen. Arlen Specter switching parties—a bit of a wild card. Knowing the Hill always matters.

First cut at a list:

Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Diane Wood, Seventh Circuit

Margaret McKeown, Ninth Circuit

Elena Kagan, Solicitor General

Martha Minow, Harvard law professor

Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security

Jennifer Granholm, governor of Michigan

Kimba Wood, U.S. District CourtN Southern District of New York

Joyce Kennard, California Supreme Court

Kathleen Sullivan, Dean of Stanford Law School

Pamela Karlan, Stanford law professor.