Judge Sonya Sotomayor approved by Judiciary Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor by a 13-6 vote Tuesday, along almost perfect partisan lines and after two hours of debate.

All Democrats voted for Sotomayor, President Obama's first nominee to the high court. All Republicans except Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, opposed. The nomination of Sotomayor, a 17-year veteran of the federal bench, now goes to the full Senate for a vote. That is likely to be held the week of Aug. 3, just before the Senate leaves for its summer recess.

Graham said he was backing Sotomayor partly because he believed President Obama, having won last November's election, deserved wide latitude to make appointments within the judicial mainstream. Graham deemed Sotomayor "well qualified," of "good character" and within "the mainstream."

Sotomayor would be the first Latina justice in U.S. history. "Now that's a big deal," Graham said.

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The Wicomico County Democratic Club would like to congratulate Judge Sotomayor on being approved by the Judiciary Committee. We know she will make a great supreme court justice once she is confirmed by the full Senate.

The full article may be found here - http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2009-07-28-senate-sotomayor_N.htm