B.O.'s pick for the Supremes?

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama is expected to name his replacement for retiring pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice David Souter. When he makes his nomination, which could come as early as Tuesday, pro-abortion 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge Diane Wood has become the front-runner.

Wood is one of several pro-abortion judges or political figures observers have placed on Obama's likely short list of candidates. Over the weekend, she appeared to rise to the top of the list.

Wood is considered a top legal mind by left-wing political activists as someone who can counter the legal acumen of Supreme Court jurists like Chief Justice John Roberts and Antonin Scalia.

However, her personal connections to Obama and her gender are causing some to consider her the most likely pick.

Abortion advocates have been lobbying Obama to name a woman to replace Souter and join pro-abortion Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only other woman on the top court. But Wood's relationship with Obama -- she also taught law at the University of Chicago law school where Obama was a colleague until 2004 -- may put her in the catbird's seat.

Several top pro-life and conservative sources told LifeNews.com over the weekend that they believed Obama would select Wood.

If he does so, Obama will be picking an abortion advocate who pro-life organizations will strongly oppose.

As a member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, she has a long history of taking the pro-abortion side when it comes to pro-life issues.

Wood ruled against bans on partial-birth abortion in cases involving legislation from Wisconsin and Illinois. She joined the federal court in ruling that Wisconsin's law was unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's first ruling on partial-birth abortions in 2000.

Judge Wood also ruled in favor of abortion advocates by allowing them to misuse the RICO law designed to control mob activities to sue pro-life protesters.

The Supreme Court twice overturned her opinion and, in February 2006, ruled a second time that federal racketeering laws used against mob bosses can't be used against pro-life advocates who protest abortions.

Wood kept alive the lawsuit against pro-life advocates even though the high court had already issued an 8-0 decision in their favor.

Joseph Scheidler, the defendant in the lawsuit, said after the decision that Wood " claimed an affiliation with Chicago NOW and Planned Parenthood throughout the duration of the" case.

Finally, Wood wrote a dissent in a case concerning an Indiana law requiring counseling and informed consent prior to an abortion. Similar laws in other states have reduced the number of abortions by giving women information about abortion risks and alternatives and have been upheld by the Supreme Court.