Franken assigned to Judicary in advance of Sotomayor Hearings

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

In a move that will assure Al Franken a hard earned opportunity to prove himself as more than a comedian, on Tuesday he was assigned to his Senate Committees. Franken becomes the newest member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, less than a week before that committee takes up a major issue.

On Monday, July 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be gaveled into session and begin consideration of President Obama's nominee for the position of Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court.

It is rare for a congressional member as new as Franken to be place on a committee that will be addressing such a newsworthy issue. However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the democratic leadership have been planning for the winner of the Minnesota race to serve on this Committee since January, when the new Senate took office.

Franken has promised to be the "people's proxy" during the hearings.