Honestly Wacko there are some great appointments of jurist with both public and private experience who's ability and talents are outstanding. There are three candidates, under the right circumstances, who could possibly be confirmed if nominated based on their reputation as legal scholars.
Those three are Paul Whatford, Sri Srinivasan and Jane L. Kelly. All three have outstanding records as jurist of which Srinivasan is probably the most accomplished.
If I was in Obama's shoes I would choose Srinivasan because of his track record and his unanimous confirmation to the federal appellate court. My second choice would be Jane Kelly. I'm basing that on who I think have the best credentials, as a Jurist, for the job. I'm not familiar with Whatford but I am with Kelly and Srinvisan and though I'm a bit biased for Kelly since she's a Hawkeye, I'd go with Srinivasan.
It would be hard for the Senate not to give him a hearing or a vote. He's eminently qualified, a well known moderate and probably the finest legal mind in this nation not already sitting on the SCOTUS bench.
My guess is that one of these three will be the nominee because of their outstanding qualifications, track records as moderate and their relative youth (all three are 48).