NOMINEE

Sotomayor trips up

06-09-2009 | AP

Panama Star WASHINGTON. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor broke her ankle Monday morning in an airport stumble on her way to Washington to meet with senators who will vote on her confirmation.

The federal judge, who has been keeping up a busy schedule of appointments on Capitol Hill, tripped at New York's LaGuardia Airport before boarding a flight to Washington and sustained a small fracture to her right ankle, the House said.

She was keeping her six appointments with senators despite the injury, which has her walking with crutches. Sotomayor has set a relentless pace since her Capitol Hill debut last week. By day's end Monday, she will have met with one-third of the Senate in just four days of visits.

The House is pressing for her quick confirmation, and Sotomayor wasn't pausing much for distractions, even her own trip-up.