Fair and balanced (almost)

With 31 Republicans (including John McCain) voting their consciences, Ms. Sotomayor has been confirmed and sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court. Credit to the nine Republicans who voted for an obviously qualified candidate.

I can't say I mind. The court now looks like this (name, age, tilt):

• John Roberts, 54, Right
• Samuel Alito, 59, Right
  
• Clarence Thomas, 61, Right
  
• Antonin Scalia, 73, Right

• Anthony Kennedy, 73, Center-ish (Right)
  
• Stephen Breyer, 70, Center-ish (Left)
  

• Sonia Sotomayor, 55, Left
  
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 76, Left
  
• John Paul Stevens, 89, Left

Despite the appointment of Sotomayor, this is still a very conservative court in relation to the electorate, Congress, and the President. Moreover, the conservatives are younger, on average, than the liberals. They also seem disinclined to retire, while the liberal wing will likely need to be re-staffed in the next few years.

Sotomayor will be:

• The only justice who has been a trial judge (as Souter had been)
  
• The only justice whose first language is not English
• The only justice with experience as a local prosecutor (Alito was a Fed)
• The only Hispanic on the court
• One of only three women to ever serve on the court