The Senate's lone Hispanic Republican, Florida's Mel Martinez, says he'll vote for the Supreme Court's first Hispanic nominee. Martinez is the second Republican senator to announce his intent to vote for Sonia Sotomayor. (Olympia Snowe quickly become the third after Martinez's announcement.)
Here's his statement:
"Given her judicial record, and her testimony this week, it is my determination that Judge Sotomayor is well qualified to serve as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
"Judge Sotomayor is knowledgeable of the law, would be a fair and impartial judge, and seems to have a good understanding of the limited role the judiciary plays in our democracy.
"Judge Sotomayor's rise to the Supreme Court is testimony to the fact that the American dream continues to be attainable. As an Hispanic American, I take great pride in Judge Sotomayor's historic achievement. Given her qualifications and testimony this week, I intend to vote in favor of her confirmation."
Mel Martinez is the only minority Republican senator, and he's retiring at the end of his term. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American Republican running to replace him, has previously voiced concerns about Sotomayor's confirmation.
