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US Supreme Court nominee quizzed | |
(10 minutes later) | |
The US Senate has begun a hearing on whether to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as President Obama's choice to serve on the Supreme Court. | The US Senate has begun a hearing on whether to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as President Obama's choice to serve on the Supreme Court. |
Ms Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic to serve on the court if she is, as expected, confirmed in the post. | Ms Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic to serve on the court if she is, as expected, confirmed in the post. |
But Republican senators have indicated they will use the hearings to press her to explain past rulings and comments. | But Republican senators have indicated they will use the hearings to press her to explain past rulings and comments. |
These include her remark that a "wise Latina" could reach better legal conclusions than a white man. | These include her remark that a "wise Latina" could reach better legal conclusions than a white man. |
The hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee began at 1000 local time (1400GMT), with opening comments by the 12 Democratic and seven Republican senators. | The hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee began at 1000 local time (1400GMT), with opening comments by the 12 Democratic and seven Republican senators. |
Correspondents said the drama and tension at the meeting was palpable and the room was filled to capacity. | Correspondents said the drama and tension at the meeting was palpable and the room was filled to capacity. |
RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 1954: Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parentsFather died when she was aged nine and her mother raised her1979: Graduates from Yale and serves as an assistant district attorney in New York County1984: Moves into private practice, specialising in intellectual property1991: George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge1997: Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court Profile: Sonia Sotomayor Sotomayor on the spot | RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 1954: Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parentsFather died when she was aged nine and her mother raised her1979: Graduates from Yale and serves as an assistant district attorney in New York County1984: Moves into private practice, specialising in intellectual property1991: George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge1997: Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court Profile: Sonia Sotomayor Sotomayor on the spot |
In opening remarks, Sen Patrick Leahy who chairs the judiciary committee and is a supporter of Ms Sotomayor, described her as "committed to the law" and "not to ideology". | |
"She has been a judge for all Americans. She will be a justice for all Americans," he said. | |
"Let no-one demean this extraordinary woman." | |
Ms Sotomayor, 55, will make a statement that is expected to recall her personal story of growing up in a poor New York neighbourhood to Puerto Rican parents, going to law school and rising to become an appeals court judge. | Ms Sotomayor, 55, will make a statement that is expected to recall her personal story of growing up in a poor New York neighbourhood to Puerto Rican parents, going to law school and rising to become an appeals court judge. |
Senators are expected to begin questioning her on Tuesday in an attempt to find out more about her legal thinking. Both sides will also call witnesses. | Senators are expected to begin questioning her on Tuesday in an attempt to find out more about her legal thinking. Both sides will also call witnesses. |
Her critics have seized on some of her rulings, including one that white firefighters in Connecticut had not been unfairly denied promotions. | Her critics have seized on some of her rulings, including one that white firefighters in Connecticut had not been unfairly denied promotions. |
The Supreme Court last month overturned that decision, ruling by five votes to four that the firefighters had been unfairly discriminated against. | The Supreme Court last month overturned that decision, ruling by five votes to four that the firefighters had been unfairly discriminated against. |
Balance unaltered | Balance unaltered |
Some of Ms Sotomayor's remarks have also provoked controversy, in particular in 2001 when she said: "I would hope a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." | Some of Ms Sotomayor's remarks have also provoked controversy, in particular in 2001 when she said: "I would hope a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." |
Such comments, her critics say, suggest her decisions would stem from bias, empathy and emotion rather than strict interpretation of the law. | Such comments, her critics say, suggest her decisions would stem from bias, empathy and emotion rather than strict interpretation of the law. |
"She has criticised the idea that a woman and a man would reach the same result. She expects them to reach different results. I think that's philosophically incompatible with the American system," Sen Jeff Sessions, the senior Republican on the judiciary committee, told CBS television. | "She has criticised the idea that a woman and a man would reach the same result. She expects them to reach different results. I think that's philosophically incompatible with the American system," Sen Jeff Sessions, the senior Republican on the judiciary committee, told CBS television. |
But Sen Leahy has insisted that Ms Sotomayor is a "mainstream judge". | |
Ms Sotomayor is expected to win confirmation to the nine-member Supreme Court that rules on key political and social issues, and is the final arbiter of the US constitution. | Ms Sotomayor is expected to win confirmation to the nine-member Supreme Court that rules on key political and social issues, and is the final arbiter of the US constitution. |
But as she would replace Justice David Souter, another liberal justice, the balance of the conservative-leaning court would not be significantly altered. | But as she would replace Justice David Souter, another liberal justice, the balance of the conservative-leaning court would not be significantly altered. |
She would, however, be not only the first Hispanic justice but only the third woman in the history of the court. | She would, however, be not only the first Hispanic justice but only the third woman in the history of the court. |