Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in as the Supreme Court's 111th justice and first-ever Hispanic judge and third xx-chromosome carrier. With a Senate vote of 68-31, Sotomayor was also the first nominee by a Democrat in a long 15 years. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oath of office on Saturday. Associated Press reports, "the Senate chamber was heavy with history as senators took the rare step of assembling at their desks on for the vote, rising from their seats to call out 'aye' or 'nay.'"
Most telling of all was when 91-year-old Robert Byrd of West Virginia, in "frail health following a long hospitalization," wheeled in the room to vote in Sotomayor's favor. Aw.
Read more about Sotomayor's confirmation, as well as bizarre and unfounded allegations of racism by certain members of the Senate, here and here.
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