Sonia Sotomayor Hearings

Click here for live video coverage. Highlights so far (11 am), according to the Washington Post live blog of the hearings.

*Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) portrayed "Sotomayor as a moderate and referred to her 'tough record' in criminal cases." Leahy adds that "[t]hose who break barriers often face the added burden of overcoming prejudice."

*Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) "criticized President Obama for saying a judge should have 'empathy'" and "said he couldn't vote for a judge who allows her personal background to influence her decisions." (note: Sessions "was himself rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee for a position on the federal bench 23 years ago."] Sessions also is emphasizing the "Ricci" case pertaining to promotion criteria for firefighters in New Haven, CT.

*Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) points to a 2005 Obama speech in which he said that "the test of a qualified judicial nominee 'is whether he or she can effectively subordinate their views in order to decide each case on the facts and the merits alone.'"

*Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) highlights Sotomayor's "deep and broad experience," and points out that Sotomayor's resume "is indeed unique for a Supreme Court justice."

*An "anti-abortion protester was...arrested and taken from the room after disrupting the opening statement of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), screaming about the 'genocide of Latino" fetuses.'"

*Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) extols Sonia Sotomayor's "courage nomination will "inspire countless children." Feingold pushes back hard on the charge of "judicial activism," arguing that it's "actually the current conservative majority on the Supreme Court that is activist and that it overturns settled law whenever it chooses." I couldn't agree more.

*Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is going on and on about the horrors of "empathy." My question for Kyl and other Republicans is this: if "empathy" is a bad thing, why isn't "harshness" (as exemplified by the Clarence Thomases and Antonin Scalias of the world - far worse? Kyl also brings up the "wise Latina" comment; big surprise.

*Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that "Sotomayor's record bespeaks judicial modesty." According to Schumer, Sotomayor "puts rule of law above everything else." "Her record shows that she is in the mainstream." She is far more about calling "balls and strikes" than Chief Justice Roberts.

*Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says "unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed." Graham says the "wise Latina" comment doesn't make her a racist, but it bothers him.

I'm definitely interested in what Arlen Specter has to say, also whether Al Franken says that Sotomayor is "good enough, smart enough, and doggone it people like her!" :)

*Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is completely insufferable and hypocritical. It's not bad when the Supreme Court restricts peoples' rights (e.g., conservative "judicial activism"), but it's bad when the Supreme Court interprets the constitution in a way that expands liberty and the pursuit of happiness in America? Typical Republican. I also love how Cornyn raises red herrings and right-wing bogeymen like "international law." What a joke.

*Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) completely rejects the metaphor of a "mechanical" judge, simply an "umpire who calls balls and strikes." If that were the case, why would we need NINE Supreme Court justices?!? Whitehouse also rejects the concept that conservatives are paradigms of "restraint" while liberals are wild-eyed "activists." Whitehouse says that right-wing members of the court have actually been the activists; ignoring precedent, trampling on constitutional rights, and not keeping to promises of modesty and humility. "None of this is 'balls and strikes'. "Thank you, Sen. Whitehouse, you are one sharp cookie! (Whitehouse is rapidly becoming my favorite U.S. Senator; he rocks!) [Note: maybe it has something to do with the fact that Whitehouse has a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law? :)]

*Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is about as right-wing (and stupid) as they come, opposing abortion even in cases of rape, for instance. Honestly, I don't care what he has to say. [Thank goodness, he's the last Republican Senator to speak this morning.]

*Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says these hearings can be "long and painful." You can say that again! :)

[LUNCH BREAK UNTIL 2 PM]

*Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) talks about Sotomayor's "inspiring journey" and mentions her prosecution of the "Tarzan" killer case.

*Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) says he has "a lot to learn," and points out that "while he isn't a lawyer, neither is the vast majority of Americans."

*Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduce Sonia Sotomayor. Sen. Leahy tells Gillibrand to hurry up and finish. Awk-ward!

*I will post Sonia Sotomayor's written statement, which I received a while ago, in the comments section as soon as she delivers the remarks.

*Hearing adjourned at 3 pm.