SCOTUS Watch

President Obama called two key members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today to begin discussions about who he will name to fill retiring Justice Souter's seat on the high court.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced the phone calls to Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Hatch (R-UT) during today's briefings.

To date, the President has not interviewed any potential nominee for the job.  Gibbs didn't know if the White House General Counsel, Greg Craig had begun his own interviews. But Gibbs did say that the process would be similar to that of Mr. Obama's vice presidential search, ie not "one that is overly public."

Will the White House make the announcement via text message, like they did with the Biden news during the campaign?  "Maybe so," joked Gibbs.