Obama hails confirmation of Sotomayor as Supreme Court justice

Obama hails confirmation of Sotomayor

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is lauding the barrier-breaking confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court.

Said the president: “With this historic vote, the Senate has affirmed that Justice Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation’s highest court.”

Sotomayor will be sworn in on Saturday and appear with Obama at the White House on Wednesday.

Obama spoke moments after the Senate confirmed Sotomayor (SUHN’-ya soh-toh-my-YOR’) on Thursday.

The president called the occasion a wonderful moment for Sotomayor’s family — and for America.

She replaces retiring Justice David Souter, who has retired.