Legal Beat

After speaking with the president on the phone Monday, Orrin G. Hatch predicted a replacement for Justice David H. Souter on the Supreme Court could be named as soon as this weekend.

"I'd be surprised if it went beyond this week," said Hatch, a Utah Republican and Senate Judiciary Committee member.

Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said President Obama filled him in on when he was planning to announce a nominee but would not comment publicly on the time frame. "I'll let the president speak for himself," said Leahy, who intends to make his own recommendations to the president when they sit down and talk in person.