With today's announcement by Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers that he will not seek a second term in office, Nashville's legal community has been abuzz over whom the justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court might appoint to replace him.

NashvillePost.com reported this morning that the chief legal counsel for Gov. Phil Bredesen, Bob Cooper, is likely a strong contender.

Since that report, NashvillePost.com has heard of several prominent individuals who are rumored to be among those in the running for the job. They are:

Margaret Behm - Nashville attorney and civic activist. Received B.A. and J.D. from University of Tennessee. Partner in the law firm of Dodson, Parker & Behm.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Andy Bennett - Native of Charlotte, Tenn. Graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt School of Law. Currently serves as Summers' top assistant.

Judge Patsy Cottrell - Appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 1998 and re-elected in 2000. A Memphis native, graduate of University of Tennessee and former adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt School of Law. Married to Davidson County Public Defender Ross Alderman.

Jeff Feibelman - Partner in the Memphis firm Burch, Porter and Johnson. Graduate of Yale University; has served as an adjunct professor at Rhodes College and University of Memphis School of Law.

State Rep. Kim McMillan - Retiring Democratic majority leader for the Tennessee House of Representatives. Has represented Clarksville in the legislature since 1994. Partner in the Nashville law firm of Boult, Cummings, Conners and Berry. Her husband Larry was appointed as a Chancery Court Judge for the 19th Judicial District by Bredesen.

James Weaver - Crump, Tenn. native and partner in the Nashville law firm Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis. Graduate of Vanderbilt University and University of Memphis School of Law.