Still, I didn't expect Sandoval, if the rumors are true. More likely, I'd expect Obama would find some federal judge appointed by one of the President Bush's, who was originally "Conservative" but has since become a loyal Democrat bootlicker.. e.g., the judicial equivalent of Ray LaThug or Scott McCollum.
FDR did something similar, he named one of the Coolidge associate justice appointees to be elevated to Chief Justice, and picked someone who had "evolved" into a reliable big government statist.
Brian Sandoval is a shrewder choice. As an actual elected Republican (and former Judge) he’d give Obama more cover than some random RINO Nazi Judge we could call another Souter and actual people (voters, GOP Senators) actually know him from Adam.
He’s the ideal person for this gambit. If Obama nominates him he’d give up the attempt to get a Nazi in but would go for his best chance to move the court to the left and try and embarrass Republicans in they refuse him.
Trump’s sister would be a more wild gambit.
I hope the Governor is loyal to the party and declines.
Harlan Fiske Stone was actually Coolidge’s ONLY SCOTUS appointee. It was a terrible choice on par with Ford’s sole selection of John Paul Stevens. FDR could hide behind a bipartisan facade by elevating Stone to Chief Justice while secure in the knowledge he was a left-winger.
As for Sandoval, a social leftist CINO (Catholic in name only) is a slap in the face to Justice Scalia’s memory. A gargantuan “HELL, NO !” to him.