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Obama 'makes Supreme Court pick' Obama chooses Supreme Court judge
(about 2 hours later)
US President Barack Obama intends to nominate Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court, officials say. US President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the country's Supreme Court.
Ms Sotomayor, 54, would be the first Hispanic to take the position. Ms Sotomayor, 54, who has now to be approved by a Senate vote, would be the first Hispanic to take the position.
A New York appeal court judge, she would replace Justice David Souter, who announced his retirement from the top US court earlier this month. She would replace Justice David Souter, who announced his retirement from the top US court earlier this month.
Reports said Mr Obama would announce his nominee later on Tuesday. Any presidential pick must be confirmed by the Senate. Mr Obama said he had chosen Ms Sotomayor after an "exhaustive" process, and paid tribute to her as an "inspiring woman".
If approved, Ms Sotomayor would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current Supreme Court. He said she would bring a "depth of experience and a breadth of perspective" to the role.
She had been widely tipped as a frontrunner in the race to succeed Mr Souter. 'No rubber stamp'
In an emotional acceptance speech, Ms Sotomayor said her heart was "bursting with gratitude".
"I am an ordinary person blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences - today is one of those experiences," she said.
If approved by the Senate, Ms Sotomayor would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current Supreme Court.
Observers say any nomination made by Mr Obama is likely to be approved because the Democrats dominate the Senate.
Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republicans in the chamber, said his colleagues would treat Ms Sotomayor fairly, but stressed that the Senate should not be a "rubber stamp".
"We will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences," he said.
White House officials told the Associated Press that Ms Sotomayor would bring more judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any other justice confirmed in the past 70 years.White House officials told the Associated Press that Ms Sotomayor would bring more judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any other justice confirmed in the past 70 years.
Bronx background
Mr Obama had stressed the need to appoint a justice who had life experience as well as legal capabilities.
Ms Sotomayor was raised on a housing estate in the Bronx - in one of New York City's most deprived areas.
She is said to have been inspired by the Perry Mason TV series to become a judge, and was educated at both Princeton and Yale.
She has been nominated to serve as a judge by both Republican and Democrat presidents.
In 1991, George H W Bush named her a district judge and his successor in the White House, Bill Clinton, nominated her to the circuit court in 1997.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, and has the authority to strike down any state or federal law it deems unconstitutional.The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, and has the authority to strike down any state or federal law it deems unconstitutional.
Each of the nine Supreme Court justices is nominated to the post for life.
Of the incumbents, four are regarded as liberal, four as conservative and one is seen as unaligned.
If appointed, Ms Sotomayor is expected to be on the liberal wing - leaving the political balance unchanged as Mr Souter is also a liberal.