For Thomas Goldstein, a prominent Washington attorney and co-founder of scotusblog.com, John Roberts “sets the tone.” “While he may not be the swing vote, this is definitely John Roberts’ court,” he said. “He seems to be the one who is guiding the court in terms of how aggressively to move the law. Whether reshaping the agenda “in a conservative direction or just reshaping the docket, he has a firm control over the court.”

The important issues that the justices will have to face over the coming months involve weapon restriction and gun rights, the display of religious symbols on public property, the verdict for juvenile criminals committing non-homicidal offences, and international child abductions and parent custody thereof. Other cases include government takings, civil commitment for sex offenders, dog fighting, Miranda rights and terrorism.

Differences have not put a barrier between the justices. Sources say that they get along with each other very well. Sotomayor was greatly welcomed according to one source. Many believe that the credit goes to Roberts for easing tension amongst the justices over the years.

“The important point is that the key to achieving this broader consensus on a collective and collegial court does not rest with any individual member, chief justice or not, but with the court as a whole,” he said.

“There will, of course, be divisions on the court and those cannot and should not be artificially suppressed. But the rule of law and the court as an institution both benefit from broader agreement.”

Marie Watteau, spokesperson of the National Council of La Raza, an organisation for civil rights of Hispanics, said that the confirmation of Sotomayor is a great step for the Hispanic community in the US as well the whole nation. “It finally shows that we are being represented, we are at the table,” said Watteau. “We came out and voted in record numbers in November and now we have a Supreme Court justice. So it really is showing the strength of our community in this country.” A number of Republican senators did not agree with Obama’s statement during the time he nominated the judge. Obama said that one of Sotomayor’s qualities that will make her perform better is her empathy. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader in the Senate, said that empathy could possibly lead Sotomayor to make unfair rulings. “Empathy is a fine quality,” said McConnell. “But in a courtroom, it is only good if the judge has it for you.”

Likewise, New Hampshire Republican Senator Judd Gregg expressed his confidence in Sotomayor and her qualifications for the position. ”Although Judge Sotomayor and I may not see eye-to-eye on all issues or share the same political ideologies, our democratic system should allow for such differences,” said Gregg. Gregg also expressed his disappointment with what he branded “the politicization of the confirmation process of judicial appointment,” saying, “This is why I criticized the Democratic leadership’s tactics to block highly qualified judicial nominees during the Bush administration, and these same principles still hold true for me now.” The number of senators who backed Sotomayor increased to eight with Bond and Gregg. Among the other senators who joined them in their support for Sotomayor were Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Mel Martinez of Florida, and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee.