The nomination: Judge Sonia Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic justice in the court's history, and its third woman. Casting her as the embodiment of the American dream, President Obama touched off a confirmation battle that he hopes to wage over biography more than ideology.
The reaction: Senate Republicans have vowed to scrutinize her record, but seem reticent to quickly oppose her nomination for fear of offending the growing Hispanic vote. Other Republicans have been much more vocal against her.
The flashpoint: The most controversial issue so far has been reaction to a 2001 speech by Sotomayor on how her Puerto Rican heritage affects her role as a judge. "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life," she said.
What's next: Sotomayor will meet Tuesday with Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy and Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions.
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