AP source: Obama nominating 3 to US appeals court in Rose Garden on TUESDAY (at 10:15 am ET) [View all]

Obama nominating 3 to US appeals court

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A White House official says President Barack Obama plans to name three nominees Tuesday to the influential federal appeals court in Washington.

Obama's nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, Cornelia Pillard and Robert Leon Wilkins is sure to set up a battle with Senate Republicans who say the court doesn't need more judges. Republicans have proposed legislation to transfer two of the D.C. circuit's vacancies to other parts of the country with higher case loads. The GOP legislation would eliminate the third vacancy on the appeals court.

A White House official said Monday that Obama planned to announce all three nominees in the Rose Garden on Tuesday. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the nominees publicly before the announcement and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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