US Senate panel approves Sotomayor's nomination

A key US senate panel on Tuesday approved the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first high court nominee, as the Supreme court judge, putting her in position for confirmation next week.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's 13-6 vote referred the appeals court judge to the full Senate for confirmation, which was expected to occur before lawmakers leave on a month-long break on August 7.

Sotomayor (55), who was nominated by Obama to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, had testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee for four days early this month.

She would become the first Hispanic justice and the third women in the supreme court if confirmed to the post.

"Having reviewed her record, I know that Sonia Sotomayor has been that kind of judge. I have every confidence that she will be that kind of Justice of the United States Supreme Court," said Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"During my time in the Senate, I have often spoken of the standard that I use for judicial nominees," Leahy said during the Committee vote on Tuesday.

"I ask myself whether the nominee would be the kind of independent judge who would be fair and impartial. Whether any American could expect fair consideration, regardless of race, whether rich or poor, whether a person or a corporation, whether defendant or the government, whether Republican or Democrat or Independent," he said in a statement.