Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is praising President Barack Obama's pick for the Supreme Court. The president Tuesday morning announced the nomination of New York federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor. Durbin says he expects some opposition to the selection.

DURBIN: President Obama knows better than anyone that if you're going to be the first, you have to be the best. You're going to be subject to more scrutiny than anyone before you. He had that in his race as the first African American to be elected president. Sonia Sotomayor, as the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court, is going to face a higher level of scrutiny than other people might.

Durbin is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings on the nomination.

The senator previously urged President Barack Obama to consider a Chicagoan for the court vacancy. Durbin's list included federal judges Ruben Castillo, Diane Wood and Ann Williams, and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Hear Durbin answer reporters' questions.