Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin

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Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin

On the cusp of history, Sonia Sotomayor listened intently in a packed Senate hearing room Monday as lawmakers began confirmation hearings on her appointment as the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

On the cusp of history, Sonia Sotomayor listened intently in a packed Senate hearing room Monday as lawmakers began confirmation hearings on her appointment as the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, accompanied by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., center, and the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., prepares to testify before the committee Monday on Capitol Hill.

In opening remarks, Leahy likened Sotomayor to other judicial pioneers, citing Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice seated on the high court, as well as Louis Brandeis, the first Jew, and Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the senior Republican, vowed a "respectful tone" and "maybe some disagreements" when lawmakers begin questioning Sotomayor on Tuesday. Sotomayor broke her ankle last month.

Newly seated Sen. Al Franken (D-Mn.) listens to comments Monday morning.

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor introduces her family, including mother Celina Baez, on the first day of confirmation hearings. Her brother, Juan, is at right.

Inside the Senate, there was no talk of a filibuster, under which Republicans would attempt to block a vote on her nomination. Instead, barring a gaffe of major proportions, Sotomayor seemed on her way to confirmation even before Leahy rapped the opening gavel.

Members of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor's family await the start of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing Monday. From left are, nephew Conner Sotomayor, nephew Corey Sotomayor, sister-in-law Tracey Sotomayor, niece Kiley Sotomayor, stepfather Omar Lopez and mother Celina.

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On the cusp of history, Sonia Sotomayor listened intently in a packed Senate hearing room Monday as lawmakers began confirmation hearings on her appointment as the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

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