Advocates Call for First Openly Gay Justice

Gay-rights advocates are calling on President Obama to fill David Souter’s Supreme Court seat with an openly gay person, Politico reports. “It’s not so much we want to check that box at the Supreme Court level, but that achievement would be breaking the glass ceiling in a huge way,” said one. Frustrated by the lack of openly gay cabinet members, groups are touting possible homosexual nominees.

Said to be in the running are two Stanford law scholars, Kathleen Sullivan and Pam Karlan. Says Karlan: “Given the landscape, I’m flattered, but not fooled, by having my name tossed around.” A conservative activist said an openly gay nominee would be a political “bridge too far” for Obama, putting “a whole new element into the debate that I don’t think he’s ready for.” (More gay rights stories.)