The Supremes are always unpredictable when it comes to announcing their retirements, but RedState.org contributor Erick Erickson, a Georgia attorney and political consultant, has a source (or so he says) who is telling him some juicy Supreme Court gossip:

Rehnquist is out. It’ll happen on or about July 5. … POTUS [Bush] is leaning toward [Michael] Luttig.

If, however, O’Connor beats CJ to the White House (though POTUS & Co., Inc. does not expect her till Labor Day), we go with [Emilio] Garza first and Luttig second.

Hat tip: Alex Talcott, who points out that Garza is a Double Domer; he got his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Notre Dame.

More after the jump.

If Luttig doesn’t want it, we go with John Roberts next — Rehnquist is pushing Roberts. Roberts is a Rehnquist protege.

If O’Connor does go at Labor Day and women are not back on board GWB’s bus (a current POTUS & Co., Inc. concern), he scraps Garza and goes with Edith Brown Clements, an under the radar conservative from the 5th Circuit.

If any other spot opens, he goes with (a) [Alberto] Gonzales or (b) a sitting United States Senator from a state that currently has a Republican governor. Oh, and there just might be a third spot opening, but not until after January 1. Your guess is as good as mine on that one. Until then people in New York and Chicago will be speculating.

Source does tell me that POTUS really, really, really wants Gonzales and “POTUS is POTUS” but knows the political calculus of a Gonzales nomination would be devastating to the base and to the 14 who have to either vote for a possible Souter or vote against the first Hispanic nominee and then go on and try to get re-elected next year.