Retired U.S. judge may be Bush AG choice

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- A federal judge who retired a year ago is on the short list to become U.S. attorney general, sources told CNN Saturday.

The information came from a White House official and a Republican activist close to the Bush administration, the news network said.

Michael Mukasey was appointed a judge in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. When he retired a year ago, he was chief judge in the Southern District of New York.

Solicitor General Paul Clement will serve as acting attorney general until President George W. Bush finds a permanent replacement for Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales, who came to Washington from Texas with Bush, left office Friday.

Bush must find someone willing to serve a lame duck and unpopular president for just over a year, and someone who can win approval from a Senate controlled by Democrats. Democrats have already suggested they would block confirmation if Bush named former Solicitor General Ted Olson.