Report: Former U.S. Attorney in Seattle Jenny Durkan a possible choice to replace Holder

WASHINGTON -- A former U.S. Attorney based in Seattle is listed by NBC News as a possible successor to attorney general Eric Holder, who stepped down today.

Durkan, who served as a U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington for five years, left her position earlier this month. She was one of a first round of appointments made by President Barack Obama in his first term in office.

According to NBC News,  Durkan is on a short list of people capable and likely to replace Holder. Included on that list are Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Durkan responded to requests for a comment Thursday, saying "We don't have any comments or observations on the speculation regarding the AG."

The former U.S. Attorney received praise from Holder when she left her position in order, she said, to spend time with her family.

“Over the years, she has demonstrated remarkable skill in guiding complex litigation, fostering interagency coordination, and combating a wide range of criminal activities,” said Holder.  “Jenny has been an exceptional leader in the Justice Department’s fight against cyber-crime and our work to protect the civil rights of all Americans.  And with a strong focus on education, prevention, treatment, and community outreach, she launched one of the first federal drug courts.”

Durkan's replacement has not yet been announced.

CNN published a list of possible replacements, but that list did not include Durkan.


Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick is one of the names consistently floated as a hypothetical replacement for Holder. Patrick worked as an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department during the Clinton administration, and is a friend of Obama. The timing is also convenient for Patrick. He's not seeking reelection in Massachusetts and will be out of his job come January. Patrick would likely face a tough confirmation in the Senate though, and particularly if Republicans take back control of the upper chamber in the midterm elections. Plus, he might have his eye on a bigger job. There has been speculation that he's considering a presidential run in 2016. Obama said in an interview with a local Boston news station earlier this year that he thinks Patrick "would make a great president or vice president."

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr.

The nation's top lawyer, Donald Verrilli Jr., is another name mentioned as a potential new AG. Verrilli has served as solicitor general since 2011, and in that role he's argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the administration, including the Affordable Care Act case. Before he took over as solicitor general -- replacing Elena Kagan after her confirmation to the Supreme Court -- Verrilli served as deputy counsel to Obama. One potential con for Verrilli though is that he is an older white male, and the administration may be looking to replace Holder with a younger or more diverse candidate.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris

A rising star in the Democratic Party, Kamala Harris is another person whose name will definitely be thrown into the conversation. Harris is the first female, the first African-American and the first Asian-American attorney general in California. Well-known in California for her legal work, Harris might be best remembered on the national level for the small controversy last year that occurred after the President referred to her as "the best-looking attorney general" at a fundraiser in California. Like Deval Patrick however, Harris would likely face a tough Senate confirmation, particularly in a Republican-controlled Senate, because she is seen as very liberal.

Kathy Ruemmler, former White House counsel

Ruemmler served as White House counsel from 2011 until earlier this year. She's a close confidante of the president and very well-respected sources tell CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger that Ruemmler is indeed a strong contender for the job. One potential knock on her, Borger notes, is her former role as the president's lawyer might raise questions about how independent a Justice Department under her rule would be from the administration.

Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York

Like Holder, Bharara has served in the Obama administration for six years. Bharara was nominated to serve as the U.S. attorney for New York's Southern District (which encompasses Bronx, New York and Westchester counties, among others) in May 2009. Sources tell Borger that Bharara's name is certainly on the list, but a potential factor working against him is that he's not well-known to many people, including the President.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson

Before he became the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security last year, Jeh Johnson was a lawyer for the Department of Defense. Working in Johnson's favor: He was confirmed 78-16 to his current post. Working against Johnson: Removing him from DHS would put Obama in the position of finding a replacement -- not ideal right now, given the new threats from ISIS and the Khorasan group.

Loretta Lynch, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York

In May, 2010 Lynch was appointed to serve as the U.S. attorney in New York's Eastern District, which includes high-profile areas like Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, for a second time. She previously served in that job toward the end of the Clinton administration, from 1999 to 2001. Although she may not have the same national name recognition as others on the list, a source tells CNN's Gloria Borger that Lynch is a known quantity to Obama.