i'm kristen welker. today we begin with judging the nominee. judge sonia sotomayor will be on capitol hill this morning fielding the first questions from senators considering her nomination to the u.s. supreme court. it follows a day of introductions and the opening swing by her supporters and skeptics. nbc's steve handleson reports. >> reporter: finally, it was sotomayor's turn to argue her own case. after introducing family members in the grand and packed senate hearing room -- >> my mom, selena -- >> reporter: the appeals judge, who would be the first hispanic on the high court, laid out her legal philosophy. >> fidelity to the law. the task of a judge is not to make law. it is to apply the law. in each case, i have heard, i have applied the law to the facts at hand. my personal and professional experienceselped me to listen and understand. with the law always commanding the result in every case. >> reporter: democrats say sotomayor's record prove she's impartial. >> she has ruled for the government in 92% of criminal cases. she has denied r