Pollster John Zogby takes to the task of finding out who Americans want to be the next Chief Justice (not that this matters, of course, because it's the decision of the President and Senate). Here's what he finds:

Sandra Day O’Connor tops a list of potential Chief Justice nominees should ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist retire, a new Zogby International poll reveals. The survey also shows the High Court's two most conservative justices not faring quite as well individually, but polling a slightly higher combined 21% to O'Connor's 18%. Zogby International polled 944 likely voters from December 17 to 21, 2004. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percentage points.

O'Connor was the top pick from a list of Republicans considered possible Chief Justice nominees. The list included everyone from sitting associate justices to long-shots like outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani placed second, the favorite of 14% in the poll.

Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, who, along with Rehnquist, make up the most conservative grouping on the Court, took a combined 21% in the poll—Thomas taking 13% and the remaining 8% going to Scalia. Both men have been at the center of frequent speculation as possible successors to Rehnquist.

Link.

Also making the list: Alberto Gonzalez, John Ashcroft and former Senator (and current Law and Order "District Attorney" Fred Dalton Thompson.