I can live with these four women mentioned in Novak's column:
Owen, Pricilla
Williams, Karen
Jones, Edith
Corrigan, Maura
Just as long as we don't get a liberal/moderate like Clement.
Well, what about Janice Rogers Brown? Younger, similar credentials, just went through the same confirmation hearings and a minority.
I was pretty certain in March that Roberts would get the Presidential nod. At that time, it was seriously suspected that Roberts would get the nomination to be Chief. I think the President always had that in his back pocket notwithstanding the interim nomination to fill Justice O'Connor's seat.
But, the one caveat I have on my opinion about the elevation of Justice Brown is the President's loyalty to his colleagues in Texas. So, you and Novak are probably right.