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Sotomayor vows impartiality if confirmed
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Long days of questioning ahead
She spoke for only about five minutes at the end of the day's session but faces long days of questioning on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Apart from raising questions about her impartiality, Republicans have served notice they will focus on the issues of gun ownership, abortion, and a ruling on white firefighters from New Haven, Conn., who won their case last month when the Supreme Court reversed a decision by a New York appeals court panel that included Sotomayor.
GOP Sen. Graham's prediction of confirmation appeared to unsettle at least one other Republican. "Lindsey and I might have a different definition of meltdown, so I'm not going to predict what will happen," said Sen. Jon Kyl, of Arizona, the Senate's second-ranking Republican.
Graham was the only senator of either party to touch openly on the underlying politics of the nomination — that Republicans must be careful to keep faith with their conservative constituents, yet avoid appearing mean-spirited in questioning a nominee who represents the fastest-growing segment of the electorate.
"The Hispanic element of this hearing is important, but ... this is mostly about liberal and conservative politics more than it is about anything else," he said.
Graham hinted that he would vote to confirm Sotomayor, noting that Obama had won the election, and with it, the right to nominate justices.
But he was the only Republican to sound so inclined.
The role of racial politics in the day's proceedings became clear within minutes after Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman, rapped the opening gavel.
"She's been a judge for all Americans. She'll be a justice for all Americans," said the Vermont Democrat.
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J. Scott Applewhite / AP Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., speaks during the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. |
"Let no one demean this extraordinary woman," Leahy said in a warning to committee Republicans to tread lightly in the days ahead.
Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the senior Republican, promised a "respectful tone" and "maybe some disagreements" when lawmakers begin questioning Sotomayor on Tuesday.
"I will not vote for, and no senator should vote for an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision," he said.
"Call it empathy, call it prejudice or call it sympathy, but whatever it is, it's not law," Sessions said. "In truth, it's more akin to politics, and politics has no place in the courtroom."
But Republicans also lined up to note the historic nature of the day.
"I would hope every American is proud that a Hispanic woman has been nominated to sit on the Supreme Court," said Kyl.
The hearing was interrupted three times by protests opposed to abortion. Each time, police hustled a demonstrator from the room.
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