Updated at 4:03 p.m. on Aug. 6.

The Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court this afternoon, clearing the way for her to become the nation's first Hispanic justice. Nine Republicans joined the entire Democratic caucus -- save ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts -- in voting yes.

Sotomayor will be sworn in on Saturday.

The newest member of the Senate, Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota, presided. Leading up to the largely anticlimactic vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., took to the floor to reiterate all the talking points they have been emphasizing for the past 73 days -- since Sotomayor's nomination on May 26. Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, wrapped up the vote with closing remarks.

Our sister blog, Hotline On Call, has tallied up some notable numbers of this week's full floor debate. A total of 54 senators spoke. Of those lawmakers, 30 were Democrats, 22 were Republicans and two were independents who caucus with the Democrats. More than twice as many senators spoke in favor of President Obama's nominee as spoke in opposition.

Overall, senators spent 18 hours this week debating the nomination. Sessions took to the floor the most, speaking six separate times.