Sen. Al Franken: "I May Not Be A Lawyer, But Neither Are The Majority Of Americans"

The newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), noted that it's just his fifth day in office but he understands that this is a "historic confirmation hearing."

"I plan to learn a lot from each of you," Franken told his colleagues, also saying he plans to follow Paul Wellstone's example. Franken was deferential to other senators throughout his opening statement, remarking upon Sen. Ted Kennedy's absence at Supreme Court Justice confirmation hearings for the first time since 1965 and saying, "we miss him."

Of Sotomayor, he said she is an "exceptional individual" who understands "at the end of our task some human being is going to be affected."

"I may not be a lawyer, but neither are the majority of Americans....I believe in judicial restraint [and] I want to hear your views on judicial restraint and activism in the context of important issues like voting rights, open access to the Internet, and campaign finance reform," he said.