First GOP Senator Gives Support to Sotomayor

5168028Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor won her first public, Republican vote of approval on Friday from Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.).

Sotomayor is "clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court," Lugar said, adding that she showed "a judicial temperament" during her confirmation hearings, the Associated Press reports.

Lugar previously voted to confirm Sotomayor to her current spot on a federal appeals court.

It is likely other Republicans will declare their support for the nominee, after Senate Republicans yesterday announced that they do not intend to block her confirmation. After four days of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, ranking Republican committee member Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.) said yesterday he would not support any effort to filibuster her nomination, meaning she only needs an easily-obtainable 50 Senate votes to become the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.

Two Republicans so far, Senators James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Jim Bunning of Kentucky, have said they intend to vote against her nomination. The party faces the tricky task of appeasing conservative constituents opposed to President Obama's first Supreme Court pick without alienating Hispanice voters, the fastest-growing group of voters in the country.

Democrats have scheduled a committee vote for Tuesday and are planing for a final confirmation vote before the Senate breaks for its August recess.