Janet Napolitano, outgoing head of the US Department of Homeland Security, is Vice President Joe Biden’s choice for the US Supreme Court, he said at her farewell ceremony Friday.
Napolitano, 55, who served as America’s top domestic security officer during President Barack Obama’s first term, is leaving the post to become head of the University of California system.
Biden said he’d like to keep her in Washington — specifically, that she’d be a great addition to America’s nine-member top US court.
“I think Janet should be on the Supreme Court of the United States,” said Biden, praising Napolitano’s “deep knowledge,” of American law, and personal sterling qualities that he said include “courage, loyalty,” and “incredible character.”
As homeland security secretary for the past four years, Napolitano has presided over a vast federal bureaucracy tasked with oversight of US crime-fighting efforts, border security and counterterrorism efforts.
“This is my actual last day. At 5 pm (2100 GMT) I’ll hand over my ID card,” she said in her farewell remarks, also reminding the assembled DHS workers and guests at the ceremony that the United States continues to “live in a threat rich environment.”
Prior to becoming the first woman to head the DHS, Napolitano served as the Democratic governor of Arizona, a predominately Republican state.
There are currently no Supreme Court vacancies, but at any given time there invariably are one or two aging members contemplating retirement.
Recent speculation has settled upon Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who is 80 years old, as the next justice who could decide to relinquish her seat on the court.
If a Supreme Court vacancy does occur during the next few years it will be Biden’s boss, President Obama, who nominates a candidate to fill the post.
However, Biden, 70, is said to have aspirations to succeed Obama, and is said to be mulling a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.
If elected, among his numerous duties would be to name the replacement for any departing high court justice — with Napolitano presumably topping the list.
Napolitano says farewell
