What a unifying moment for so many in our country today, as the U.S. Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as the nation's 111th Supreme Court justice. She will be the Court's third woman and its first ever Latina.

President Obama thanked the Senate for the 68 votes to confirm Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, saying that the Judge exemplifies the nation's tradition of justice, equality and opportunity--what he called "the very ideals that have made Judge Sotomayor's own uniquely American journey possible" and ones "the Senate has upheld today in breaking yet another barrier and moving us yet another step closer to a more perfect union."

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger praised the historic vote and called Justice Sotomayor "a stellar jurist," but criticized the lack of bipartisan support. All 31 votes against Sotomayor came from Republicans. "They chose to side with the right-wing extremist base of their party instead of serving the interests of their districts as a whole."

The janitors, nurses, security guards, bus drivers and other hardworking members of SEIU have proudly stood with her because her personal story of achievement has given her a rare insight into the lives of people who get up and go to work each day to make a better life for their families.

Unfortunately, Judge Sotomayor's intelligence, open-mindedness and deep respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, fell onto the deaf ears of too many Republican senators...The short-term gain they realize in their campaign fundraising will be outweighed by their continued disconnect with the hopes and dreams of the hardworking American families they claim to represent. (Read Anna's statement here)

Justice Sotomayor will take her seat on the court in early September.

Yesterday, SEIU members and partners within the progressive community gathered on Capitol Hill in support to call for the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Watch our video from yesterday's rally: