Amicus Briefs in Sullivan v. Florida:  As reported in our News Scan, the Supreme Court agreed today to address whether the sentence of life without the possibility for parole is cruel and unusual punishment when given to juveniles.  At Sentencing Law and Policy, Doug Berman muses on what the DOJ and other amici might argue in the case.  Berman writes that groups like Human Rights Watch and the Sentencing Project "have long been vocal opponents of juve LWOP sentences" and expects them to file briefs.  He wonders, however, whether state and federal prosecutors will file as amicus in the case, and if they do, whether they will have different perspectives on how to apply the Eighth Amendment.  He also wonders what perspective AG Eric Holder, Jr. and SG Elena Kagan will offer to the case. 

Supreme Court Justice Speculation:  At Blog of Legal Times, David Ingram reports that President Obama has been calling Senators for input on who to nominate to replace Justice Souter.  Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that the President had placed calls to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania, and was looking to replace Justice Souter with someone "with a record of excellence, somebody with a record of integrity, somebody who understands the rule of law, and somebody who understands how being a judge affects Americans' everyday lives."  Over at the New Republic, Jeffrey Rosen offers some advice of his own.  In this piece, Rosen argues his "Case Against Sotomayor."  Howard Bashman offers his recollection of Judge Sotomayor on How Appealing.  He also links to Gerard Magliocca's post, "The Case for Sotomayor," on Concurring Opinions.