Obama: 'I've made my decision' on Supreme Court nominee

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said today he will reveal his Supreme Court nominee to fill the vacancy of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and his pick is expected to come from a small circle of federal appeals court judges.

"I've made my decision," Obama said in an email to supporters.

Obama planned to introduce his pick at 11 a.m. in the White House Rose Garden, setting up a showdown with Senate Republicans who have told the White House not to bother filling the vacancy in an election year.

In his email, Obama did not identify his choice to replace Justice Scalia on the nine-member court. But the president said he had devoted a "considerable amount of time and deliberation to this decision" and consulted with outside experts and groups.

The Associated Press has reported that Obama had narrowed the list to three appeals court judges: Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the appeals courts in Washington, D.C.; Sri Srinivasan, a judge on that court; and Paul Watford of the appeals courts based in San Francisco.

"In putting forward a nominee today, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty. I'm doing my job," Obama wrote. "I hope that our senators will do their jobs, and move quickly to consider my nominee."