Washington, Aug 7 - Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first nominee to the nation's apex court, made history as the Senate confirmed her to become America's first Hispanic Supreme Court judge.

Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, was easily confirmed in a 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined a unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting her nomination.

Democrat Ted Kennedy supported Sotomayor but was not present for the vote because of illness.

Sotomayor, a 55-year-old federal appeals court judge, will be the 111th person to sit on the apex court and the third woman. She will be sworn in at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts Saturday.

Obama, who selected Sotomayor May 26, said he was 'deeply gratified' by the Senate vote.

'This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family, but I also think it's a wonderful day for America,' he said at the White House.

Watching the final vote with friends and family at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, Sotomayor was confirmed after senators spent a final day of debate rehashing arguments for and against her.

Democrats continued to praise Sotomayor as a fair and impartial jurist with an extraordinary life story.