Cable news networks are reporting that President Obama has chosen to nominate Sonia Sotomayor for the US Supreme Court.

I hope to learn more about Sotomayor before expressing a strong personal opinion on the choice, but my initial impresion is this: Compared to recent nominees, Sotomayor is a far more distinguished choice than was Harriet Miers (whom I opposed), but a less distinguished choice than John Roberts — and probably Samuel Alito as well.

I expect Sotomayor to be confirmed, but without too much enthusuasm, except in a few pockets of the Democratic coalition.