Specter has Stevens replacement in mind, wants more diversity

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) said he knows who he'd like to fill Justice John Paul Stevens' seat on the Supreme Court, but he'll tell that to President Barack Obama on Monday.

Stevens, who turns 90 this month, said in an interview that he would "surely" retire during Obama's term.

Specter, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said he hoped to see a replacement for Stevens who would follow in his shoes when it came to reining in executive power. He added that he'd also like to see a nominee with a more diverse background.

"We have enough ex-circuit justices on the Supreme Court," Specter said, also expressing concern about any nominee getting tied up in a Senate filibuster.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said when it came to the possibility of a filibuster, "it'll all depend on what kind of person it is."

Kyl stressed that he didn't want to see "someone coming in with preconceived attitudes... we've had too much of that." The next justice should be there to simply interpret the law, he added.

"I hope he does not nominate an overly ideological person," Kyl said. "That will be the test."

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