Diane Wood, a judge on the federal appellate court in Chicago, is considered one of the front-runners for the Supreme Court seat being vacated this summer by Justice John Paul Stevens.
Wood’s supporters cite her extensive legal experience and sharp mind as proof of her qualifications. She is also a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law which ranks among the top legal programs in the country. Historically, though, most of the Supreme Court has come from Ivy League institutions such as Harvard and Yale.
Daniel B. Rodriguez, the Baker Institute fellow in law and urban policy and a UT law school professor, discusses Wood’s academic pedigree in today’s Houston Chronicle. He says there’s no doubt that Wood received "first-class preparation for the hard work of lawyering in a complex, diverse society" that will prepare her well should she get a slot on the nation’s top court.
Read "Next justice could be an alumna of UT-Austin" in the April 22, 2010, edition of the Houston Chronicle.