• "Finally joining the Senate, Democrat Al Franken envisions playing the 'people's proxy' during" Sotomayor's confirmation "hearings. Franken, awaiting 'an awfully emotional' Tuesday when he is sworn in, is joining the Senate Judiciary Committee," AP reports.

• Senate Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., "said Monday that he wants to find out whether" Sotomayor "would let racial bias affect her decisions as a justice," AP also reports.

• Sessions also said Monday that "his party might throw up procedural roadblocks to delay next week's planned confirmation hearing," CQ reports.

• But Roll Call (subscription) reports that "earlier rumors of GOP-led delay tactics to stall" Sotomayor's "nomination now appear all but dead."