Is Fourth Circuit Judge Karen Williams a serious contender for the Supreme Court? Or is she destined to be a whisker away like Judge Edith Brown Clement? We should know before the end of the week. For those who want to know more about Judge Williams, here is a recent profile. Judge Williams has seen her share of controversy. Among other things, she wrote the Fourth Circuit opinion holding that Miranda warnings were not constitutionally required–an opinion the Supreme Court reversed 7-2. More recently, she authored an opinion upholding the use of the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance (see here). In another recent case, she upheld a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling that a prosecution for violating China’s one-child policy did not amount to political persecution under U.S. law.