Obama picks nominee for Supreme Court vacancy

President Barack Obama will nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, a source said.

The move positions the court to have three female justices for the first time in history.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been made public.

Mr Obama will formally announce his choice at 10am local time today in the East Room of the White House.

Supreme Court nominees must be confirmed by the Senate, where Mr Obama’s Democrats have a strong majority.

Known as sharp and politically savvy, Ms Kagan has led a blazing legal career: first female dean of Harvard Law School, first woman to serve as the top Supreme Court lawyer for any administration, and now first in Mr Obama’s mind to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens.