Just in: the nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court is John G. Roberts, a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Orin Kerr, at least, is very impressed with the selection; I don’t know that much about Roberts myself, but he seems to have quite an impressive resume. Despite Kerr’s assessment that Roberts is respected by both Republicans and Democrats, Steven Taylor predicts a fight nonetheless.

Meanwhile, SayUncle is quite disappointed that Roberts doesn’t have a vagina—at least, none that we know of.

The Supreme Court nominee is going to be announced tonight by President Bush, according to various news outlets. I won’t bother repeating the speculation seen elsewhere, although I might have something substantive to say once the nominee is announced.

þ: OTB and many others.

For the second time in so many days, the Volokh Conspiracy is announcing the retirement of “Sandra O’Connor.” This time, however, it’s Sandra Day O’Connor, the associate Supreme Court justice, creating the first opening on the Supreme Court in 11 years—and also, more importantly, allowing me to test a theory of the justices’ voting behavior that’s been kicking around in my head (and which requires the end of a natural court to test).