President Obama is apparently ready to name Donald B. Verrilli Jr. as his choice for Solicitor General to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Elena Kagan. I don’t think I’ve ever met Verrilli personally, but he has a very strong reputation in DC legal circles. From what I know of him, he’s a very good pick.
UPDATE: I suspect the concluding paragraph from Charlie Savage’s coverage linked to above will be widely noted:
Miguel Estrada, a prominent conservative appellate lawyer, said in an-email that “[the Verrilli selection] is a fantastic pick and great new role for a humble yet accomplished lawyer and public servant.”