Not a huge surprise, but it is a bit abnormal for a Senator to have a position on a nominee for the Supreme Court before the confirmations hearings have even started. As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, our other senator, Chuck Schumer, is almost required to keep his mouth shut until the hearings start next month. I haven’t heard of any other senator coming out in favor of her nomination yet, so Gillibrand may be the very first vote among many in favor of Sotomayor.

Gillibrand writes a glowing endorsement of the Bronx native:

As we approach Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, which are set to begin on July 13th, I have every confidence that as my colleagues in the Senate meet her, they will realize what I have: that Judge Sonia Sotomayor is an eminently qualified Supreme Court nominee who, as a justice, will apply the rule of law without personal bias.

I urge my Senate colleagues to grant Judge Sotomayor the swift and respectful confirmation she deserves.

This nomination is a win-win for Gillibrand: she can support an solid progressive judge for the Supreme Court while at the same time further engraciating herself with the downstate Latino community — a critical bloc of voters in any Democratic party primary in New York State.

Related posts:

1. Gillibrand messes up during the Sotomayor introduction
2. Sotomayor passes the magic 60 number
3. Senator Gillibrand at the Health Care Rally
4. Maloney to challenge Gillibrand in the Democratic primary
5. Massive 2Q haul for Gillibrand; outraised Maloney by almost 3-to-1