Clinton: Obama as a Supreme Court justice would be 'a great idea'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it would be "a great idea" to appoint President Barack to the Supreme Court if she were president.

At a campaign event Tuesday in Decorah, Iowa, Clinton was asked whether she would consider nominating Obama to the bench.

"Wow, what a great idea. Nobody has ever suggested that to me," she said. "He may have a few other things to do."

Obama is certainly qualified. He graduated from Harvard Law -- the same alma mater as more than half of the current justices -- and was the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review. He also worked as a civil rights attorney and constitutional law scholar.

And the move would not be unprecedented. It would make Obama the second former president to be appointed to the bench. The first was William Howard Taft, who was appointed by President Warren G. Harding in 1921.

However, while Taft had served eight years as a judge on the 6th circuit court of appeals, Obama has no judgeship experience on his resume.

Not to mention an Obama appointment would be a tough sell. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sits on the Senate judiciary committee, which is tasked with approving appointees to the court. Cruz -- if he does not win the presidential election -- would likely have the support of other Senate Republicans in blocking the process.