Justice Ruth Baer Ginsburg told judges at a federal appeals conference that she was "cheered" to hear that Sotomayor had been nominated to replace David H. Souter. 

It is reportedly unusual, but not unheard of, for justices to comment on nominees, the Blog of the Legal Times reported. 

"As much as I will miss Justice Souter's company," Ginsburg said, "I was cheered by the next banner headline" on the nomination. "And I am so glad no longer to be the lone woman on the court."

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The New Republic reported extensively on the "dissents, and temperament" of the new nominee. 

"It's often in dissents that appellate judges can express their true selves - their passions, judicial philosophies, and unique views of the law. And Sotomayor's little-noticed dissents are clearly the opinions in which she has the greatest personal investment. 

"Unlike her majority opinions, her dissents sometimes show flashes of civil-libertarian passion or indignation, even as they remain closely grounded in facts and precedents," it reported.