Sotomayor confirmed by Senate

WASHINGTON -- Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who grew up speaking Spanish in a public housing project, is headed for a seat on the Supreme Court after an overwhelming Senate vote Thursday to make her the first Hispanic member of the court.

Her elevation prompted jubiliation among leaders of the nation's fast-growing Hispanic community.

"This is America!" exulted Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who is one of two Hispanics in the Senate, just before casting his vote.

The vote was 68-31, with only the ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., missing the roll call. Nine Republicans joined 57 Democrats and two independents in confirming President Obama's first Supreme Court nominee.

Obama praised the Senate's vote as "breaking another barrier and moving us yet another step closer to a more perfect union."

The Supreme Court issued a news release saying Sotomayor will be sworn in Saturday by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Two Democrats, Robert Byrd and Barbara Mikulski, were rolled into the Senate chamber in wheelchairs to make the vote. Byrd, 91, has been recuperating from a serious infection. He signaled his "aye" vote by twirlling his finger in the air.

Mikulski had a pink ribbon on the ankle she recently broke. The packed gallery started giggling when they heard the voice of Al Franken, who was given the duty of presiding over the chamber for the vote, calling the senators to order.

Senators voted from their seats, rather than milling about casually, procedure the Senate adheres to only for the most formal of occasions.

A 17-year veteran of the federal bench, Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx and won scholarships to Princeton University and Yale Law School. At 55, she will be the court's second-youngest member, six months older than Roberts.

She will be the 111th justice to serve on the Supreme Court and the third woman. She will replace retired justice David Souter.

The ethnic background she shares with 47 million Hispanics in the USA has garnered the most attention.