New Sen. Al Franken praised Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's experience and life story after meeting with her today, saying he was "thrilled" to be joining the Senate in time for her confirmation hearings.

The Minnesota Democrat's assignments include the Judiciary Committee, which will begin its confirmation hearings Monday.

"Judge Sotomayor will be the most experienced appointee in 75 years, and has a great life story," Franken said. "... The current Supreme Court has been sliding back on the rights of Americans as employees, as parents, as consumers, and as investors, and it is critical that the next appointee understand the importance of these protections."

Today's meeting was Sotomayor's 89th with a senator. She has met with every member of the chamber except for ailing Democrats Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and nine Republicans: John McCain of Arizona; John Barrasso and Michael Enzi of Wyoming; Richard Burr of North Carolina; Christopher (Kit) Bond of Missouri; Richard Lugar of Indiana; Pat Roberts of Kansas; James Inhofe of Oklahoma; and John Ensign of Nevada.

Roberts and Inhofe have announced plans to vote against Sotomayor, as has Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.