President Obama has narrowed his list of Supreme Court picks to at least six names, with women in five of the top spots, reports CNN. Obama is expected to make a selection by Memorial Day, sources say. Among the finalists: Federal appeals court judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Wood; Solicitor General Elena Kagan; Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano; Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm; and California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno.
Moreno, 60, had not previously made the short list of favorites. A new round of vetting is under way, led by Joe Biden, Rahm Emanuel, and David Axelrod. A bipartisan group of senators met with Obama today to discuss the vacancy. "Unless the president sends up a very controversial nominee, the vote should occur well in advance of the first Monday in October, which is when the court reconvenes," said Mitch McConnell. (More Janet Napolitano stories.)