The story notes that is the same day Obama nominated Justice Sotomayor last year, though White House officials also added the nomination could come “well before then.”
White House officials hope by putting the new nominee on the same confirmation schedule as Sotomayor, or even sooner, there will be plenty of time for a new justice to be confirmed and seated by the August recess, The Hill reports.
The Associated Press reports Obama made contact with potential nominees Wednesday, though it was unclear whether it was in person, over the phone or another form of communication.
On Wednesday, Obama met with leaders on Capitol Hill for a consulting session on potential nominees. In the discussion, he said abortion would not be a “litmus test” for any potential nominee, but indicated support of personal privacy and women’s rights will likely be mandatory.
“That’s going to be something that’s very important to me,” Obama said in response to a question about a woman’s right to choose.
“I think part of what our constitutional values promote is the notion that individuals have protection in their privacy, and their bodily integrity, and women are not exempt from that,” Obama said.
The Associated Press reports it took Obama 25 days to choose Sotomayor last year and less than half that time has elapsed since Stevens retirement announcement on April 9.