Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is leading three other potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees on at least one score: his household investment assets.

The National Law Journal reviewed financial disclosure forms for Garland, Judge Diane Wood of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Sidney Thomas of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Solicitor General Elena Kagan. All are said to be on a shortened short list.

The NLJ findings: Garland listed assets between $3.5 million and $8.6 million at the end of 2008, most of it in mutual funds, U.S. Treasury notes and bonds. Wood had assets between $2.4 million and $4.7 million at the end of 2009, including rental houses in Texas and Wisconsin. Thomas had assets valued between $600,000 and $1.5 million at the end of 2008, most of it in mutual funds.

In a report filed last year for her confirmation as solicitor general, Kagan listed assets worth $2.2 million.

Wood was also a frequent traveler, going to speaking engagements and other events about every other week on average, the NLJ says.