For the past couple days, the network and cable news channels have looked more like CSPAN, thanks to the nonstop coverage of Sonia Sotomayor‘s Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Although the hearings have been rigidly structured, stuffy and sort of dry, there is always something to keep the media watchers watching.

On Monday we sat nervously awaiting new senator and former “SNL” cast member Al Franken’s opening remarks — and they were actually pretty good. And yesterday, we were riveted by Sotomayor’s rapidly blinking eyelids and serious note-taking, and we lost count of the number of times the judge was asked about nunchuks or her “wise Latina” comments.

But after Sotomayor is — seemingly inevitably — confirmed, we will all go back to our regular lives of reading Page Six and watching Kathie Lee drink too much on the “Today” show, while a handful of dedicated reporters who cover the Supreme Court of the United States will continue to track the movements of the High Court and the integration of its new member.

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We told you last month that David Lat was stepping down as Above the Law‘s editor-in-chief and that the powers that be over there were in the process of choosing someone to fill his shoes. Well in keeping with the theme of the season (be it television or presidential) ATL decided to let its readers choose their next leader (also known as, “a mass of angry anonymous commenters, looking for someone new with whom to have a love-hate relationship”).

Apparently, ATL narrowed the applicants down to the top six (some of whom stayed anonymous so that they could keep their day jobs) and then foisted them on the readers who got vote on a weekly basis based on the candidates performance in varying assignments. There was also a panel of “celebrity” judges (Ann Althouse, Tom Goldstein, and Dahlia Lithwick). Could this be the first reality blogging contest ever? Simon Cowell should take note! Anyway, with almost 1900 votes cast it seems they have found themselves a winner! Sophist, who will be introducing himself shortly is expected to take over the reins sometime next month.