Obama fetes new Justice Sotomayor

President Barack Obama hailed new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation as “yet another step closer to that more perfect union which we all seek.”

Sotomayor, who was sworn in on Saturday, joined Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and a number of Hispanic lawmakers and supporters at a reception in the East Room of the White House to celebrate the nation’s first Hispanic member of the Supreme Court.

{mosads}Obama thanked the members of the Senate, saying, “Republicans and Democrats tore down yet one more barrier and affirmed our belief that the doors to opportunity must be open to all.”

The Senate voted 68-31 to confirm her nomination last week after nearly 20 hours of debate. Only nine Republicans voted for her.

Sotomayor, who was joined by her family, asked the nation to “wish me divine guidance and wisdom” as she joins the country’s highest court, replacing retired Justice David Souter.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) escorted the first lady into the event, where the president praised the Puerto Rican judge as “one of those only-in-America stories.”