NYT: A Premium on Secrecy in Vetting of Court Pick

WASHINGTON — President Obama relishes the idea of privacy, particularly when it comes to his roster of possible Supreme Court nominees. And he loves the fact, aides said, that the names of at least some of his candidates have yet to trickle out.

He has read with interest the short — and not-so-short — lists of prospective justices for his appointment to the court. But apparently not all of the real finalists have turned up in newspapers or the ever-growing crop of court blogs.

“The president does take some heart in knowing that in all of the lists that have been seen and produced, there hasn’t yet been one produced with the totality of names which are being considered,” said Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, smiling at the notion that secrecy surrounding the Supreme Court pick has held — for now.

It is the most important — and will surely be the most examined — appointment Mr. Obama has made since taking office. The protocols for maintaining confidentiality that were used in the selection of his running mate last summer have been put in place, with the president demanding no leaks and high discipline in the search to replace Justice David H. Souter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/politics/13web-zeleny.html?_r=1