Next justice doesn't have to be female

PRINCETON, N.J., May 13 (UPI) -- More than half of Americans are on the fence about putting a woman on the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice David Souter, a Gallup Poll indicates.

The Gallup organization says a poll of 1,015 adults taken in early May found 64 percent of respondents don't care whether President Barack Obama chooses a woman.

A slightly higher number, 68 percent, said that it doesn't matter to them whether the president appoints an Hispanic justice while 74 percent said it doesn't matter whether he selects an African-American justice.

Gallup says while it is unclear how much the average U.S. citizen knows about the current demographic makeup of the court, it appears there is "no groundswell of demand" for a candidate who possesses particular demographic characteristics.

The survey was conducted by phone May 7-10, 2009. Results carry a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.