The White House is reportedly vetting federal appellate judge Jane Kelly as a potential nomination for the Supreme Court, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Kelly was a longtime public defender in Iowa before being appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. If confirmed, Kelly would become the first public defender on the Supreme Court. Republicans have said they will not consider any Supreme Court nominations by President Obama. But Democrats believe Kelly’s nomination could pressure Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to reconsider this position, because Kelly is a prominent Iowa jurist. Grassley is up for re-election in Iowa this year.