Sotomayor clears supreme court test

Barack Obama's nominee for supreme court justice has been confirmed by the US senate judiciary committee, leaving her a step away from becoming the first Hispanic to serve on the court.The panel on Tuesday voted 13 to 6 in favour of Sonia Sotomayor becoming a member of the nine-member court.The full senate, which is controlled by democrats allied to the US president, must still give its assent to the former federal judge's confirmation before Sotomayor takes the post, which is an appointment for life.Of those who voted to confirm Sotomayor in the post, 12 were democrats and only one was a republican, highlighting the political division over her appointment to the court."Judge Sotomayor is well qualified. She has the highest rating by the American Bar Association," Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman and a democrat, said."She has administered justice without favouring one group of persons over another."