With the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Obama has a choice in front of him again. The last time he was given this choice he was put under a lot of fire for NOT choosing a black woman for Supreme Court Justice.

Of course, choosing the right person for the job is essential, this is one of the most important posts in the country but there are a billion reasons why in today’s political climate that a black person and even more so a black woman should be given extremely high consideration and maybe even the pres’s nomination.

Back in 2013 the Root looked at quite a few very very viable candidates and all of these women are likely still in the running and probably more than worthy of Obama’s stamp of approval.

Here are the three profiles from The Root.

LEAH WARD SEARS

Age: 58

Claim to fame: First African-American female chief justice of a state Supreme Court

Other highlights: If anyone is qualified to make history on the Supreme Court, it’s Sears, who has spent her career being a trailblazer. In 1992 the Cornell graduate became the first woman and youngest person appointed to Georgia’s Supreme Court. She resigned in 2009 to become a partner at a private law firm.

KAMALA HARRIS

Age: 48

Claim to fame: The first African-American attorney general in California

Other highlights: Harris, a former district attorney representing San Francisco, is being touted by many as having the brains and star power necessary to make it all the way to the White House someday. (The White House’s current occupant got into hot water for commenting on Harris’ good looks.) But it’s arguable that Supreme Court justices wield even more power than the president. They also get more than eight years to serve. In addition, she is half Indian, so she would make history twice: as the court’s first African-American female and first Indian-American justice.

DEBORAH BATTS

Age: 66

Claim to fame: First openly gay African-American federal judge

Other highlights: A graduate of Harvard Law School, Batts currently sits on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. If nominated to the Supreme Court, she would become the court’s first openly gay justice.

Imagine that, a gay black woman as Supreme Court Justice!

See the rest here: http://www.theroot.com/photos/2013/07/diversity_on_supreme_court_who_could_be_the_first_black_female_justice.html