Sonia Sotomayor nominated for U.S. Supreme Court vacancy

There had been wide speculation that Obama would name a woman to the court, which has one female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The AP is reporting that President Barack Obama picked U.S. Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Obama said Saturday he wants intellectual firepower and a common touch in the next Supreme Court justice and said he doesn't "feel weighed down by having to choose ... based on demographics."

Obama's nominee will replace retiring Justice David Souter, who announced this month he would step down when the court's current session ends this summer.

Sonia Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic in history picked to wear the robes of a justice.

If confirmed by the Senate, Sotomayor, 54, would succeed retiring Justice David Souter.

The AP says that Obama administration officials say Sotomayor would bring more judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice confirmed in the past 70 years.

A formal announcement is expected at midmorning.

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