The Senate Judiciary Committee began its hearings on whether or not to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor today. If she is confirmed, Sotomayor would become just the third woman and the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. The American Bar Association has found unanimously that she is well qualified to be a Supreme Court justice due in part to her experience and intellect. Sotomayor has a reputation as an outspoken jurist who doesn’t allow herself to be bullied or rushed. According to the Salt Lake Tribune: 

More than 1,200 legal scholars from 49 states signed a letter backing Sotomayor’s nomination to the high court, including 16 from the University of Utah and four from Brigham Young University. The only state not represented is New Hampshire, which has only one small law school.

The letter, sent to the committee Wednesday, describes Sotomayor "as a brilliant, careful, fair-minded jurist whose rulings exhibit unfailing adherence to the rule of law.”

In order to make sure Sotomayor is confirmed, take action on her Facebook fan page to urge your senators to support an “up-or-down” vote on Sotomayor before the August recess. By standing with Sotomayor, you can show your senators the amount of public support she has garnered. If you’re looking for a bit of fun while watching the hearing over the next week or so, you could check out the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearing drinking game!