SCOTUS-talk: Gonzales may be back in play

According to RedState.org, a conservative blog that has (or at least claims to have) sources close to (if not in) the White House, Alberto Gonzales may be back on the shortlist of candidates to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court:

Word in legal circles is that Priscilla Owen is set to become the next justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Unfortunately, I have received reliable information late this afternoon that Karl Rove, among others, is making a last minute push for the President to consider Alberto Gonzales, despite previous assurances from inside the White House, Justice Department, and Senate that Gonzales was not being considered.

A third party source tells RedState that Rove is pushing for Gonzales and that Larry Thompson's name has gone off the radar. This afternoon I contacted my White House source who says Karl Rove "believes that Gonzales is conservative and, given the current docket, will have time to prove it before midterm elections."

Rumors, rumors -- but I hope they're true. There are, after all, far worse candidates than Gonzales for liberals and moderates who hope for a continuation of the current balance on the Court. Like Priscilla Owen, for example.

My previous posts on Gonzales:

Is Gonzales Spanish for Souter?

Gonzales: Just too damn liberal?

In search of civility

A question of loyalty: Bush and Gonzales

What to label Gonzales?