Women, Blacks & Other Minorities Top Bush's Supreme Court Short List

The White House is developing a short list of possible Supreme Court nominees so President Bush can move quick if a justice retires when the Court breaks for its summer recess in June.

Some of Bush's political advisers believe he would be better off tapping a strong conservative who would rally the base -- especially a female or minority nominee with a compelling life story who would be difficult for moderate Senate Democrats to oppose.

In that camp are federal appeals court Judges Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown. Although both were filibustered by Senate Democrats after Bush nominated them as appellate judges, eventually they were confirmed.

What's interesting about Janice Rogers Brown, however, is that the former California Supreme Court Justice is an extremely conservative who, for better or for worse, would definitely make the cover of Essence as the first African-American female to serve on the highest court in the nation.