WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin Judge Sonia Sotomayor 's confirmation hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court on July 13 , the committee 's chairman , Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont , said Tuesday . Judge Sonia Sotomayor makes her way around Capitol Hill on Monday on crutches after breaking her ankle . And a leading Republican , Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida , on Tuesday predicted the Senate will confirm Sotomayor . Speaking on the Senate floor , Leahy said the July hearing date favored by President Obama would provide sufficient time for thorough examination of the federal appellate judge 's record . `` It 's going to allow several more weeks for committee members to prepare for the hearing ... and there 's no reason to unduly delay consideration of this well-qualified nominee , '' Leahy said . Watch more on Sotomayor on a fast track » . Republican leaders have called for confirmation hearings in September . Sotomayor is expected to win easy confirmation as the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and the third woman to sit on the nation 's highest court . After a one-on-one meeting with Sotomayor , Martinez said , `` I would expect that she would be confirmed with pretty good numbers . '' Martinez stopped short of endorsing her nomination , saying he wants to wait until after her confirmation hearings are held . But he had positive things to say about her personal and judicial background and said she would `` fit in '' well on the Supreme Court . Martinez , the only Hispanic Republican senator , said he is not concerned about Sotomayor 's `` wise Latina '' comments that sparked controversy because he said there is no evidence that sentiment has influenced her judicial decisions . iReport.com : Is Sotomayor right for the Court ? `` For someone who is of Latin background , personally , I understand what she is trying to say . Which is , the richness of her experience forms who she is . It forms who I am , '' Martinez said . CNN 's Ted Barrett contributed to this report .
` ` There 's no reason to unduly delay confirmation , '' Sen. Patrick Leahy says . Republican leaders have called for confirmation hearings in 2018 . Sonia Sotomayor would be first Hispanic Supreme Court justice if confirmed . Democratic Sen. Mel Martinez said Senate will confirm Sotomayor .