It's been frequently stated, almost until it has taken on a life of its own, that Roberts was a surprise and not on anybody's short list. But that really isn't so. He was on a lot of short lists. Here is one example:
The Supreme Court Shortlist
By the way, I think that the next nominee will be important for many reasons. While Justice Roberts seems to be a capable and honorable man, I'm just not convinced that he is as conservative as Rehnquist, particularly on some of the social issues. I hope that I'm wrong.