Judge Priscilla Owen, who made it on to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as a result of the agreement among the Gang of Fourteen to block the nuclear option, is one of the most talked about possible nominees to fill the Supreme Court seat currently held by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. But as Bob Novak reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, the Democrats are already lining up to play hardball on her potential nomination.

According to Senate sources, Democratic Leader Harry Reid has informed Majority Leader Bill Frist that Federal Appeals Court Judge Priscilla Owen will be filibustered if President Bush names her to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

Republican senators are divided on whether former Texas Supreme Court Justice Owen is vulnerable because she underwent a filibuster for the appellate seat and was confirmed under the compromise agreement. Frist is known to believe Owen can be confirmed in the face of a filibuster.

Republican Senate strategists believe Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the only possible Bush nominee to replace O'Connor who would not face a filibuster.

While Judge John G. Roberts' stance on abortion is unclear -- he seems to believe in the right of privacy, which is the backbone of women's right to choose -- it's entirely clear that a Justice Owen would move to overturn not only Roe v. Wade, but dozens of Court rulings dating back to the 1930s. While Novak seems to indicate that the Democrats might not be able to sustain a filibuster against Owen, this one might become the vote to watch of the 109th Congress.