Despite efforts by Senate Republicans to put the brakes on the confirmation process, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is moving relatively quickly through the nomination process.

Of the nine justices currently sitting on the federal high court bench, it took- on average- just over 92 days from the time the vacancy was announced to the time the nominee's Senate committee hearings began.  Justice David Souter announced his retirement on May 1, and President Barack Obama selected Sotomayor on June 1.  Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat of Vermont and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, set July 13 for the day Sotomayor's hearings are to begin- totalling just 74 days.

Committee hearings typically take several days, after which a Senate floor vote is held.  Sotomayor is expected to be confirmed without significant trouble or opposition.

The current justice with the longest period of time from the announcement of the vacancy to the administering of the oath of office is Clarence Thomas, who took 237 days before he could officially don his Supreme Court robe.  The shortest process goes to the senior member of the bench, Justice John Paul Stevens, who took just 27 days following the announcement of the vacancy to his assumption of office.