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| US top court nominee faces Senate | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US Senate has begun a hearing on whether to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as President Barack 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. |
| Confirmation hearings for a new Supreme Court justice provide one of Washington's most imposing pieces of political theatre, correspondents say, with the drama and tension at this meeting palpable. | |
| Judge Sotomayor took her place in a crowded committee room, facing the massed ranks of senators from the judiciary committee who will decide her fate. | |
| 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 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. | "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." | "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. |
| Most previous Supreme Court nominees have tried to negotiate tricky hearings by saying as little as possible on controversial subjects - and that is one precedent Judge Sotomayor is certain to follow, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington. | |
| 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. |
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES 'Wise Latina': Ms Sotomayor said a wise Latina could reach a better conclusion than a white maleDiscrimination: Her ruling that white Connecticut firefighters were not discriminated against was overturned by the Supreme CourtEmpathy: President Obama said he wanted someone with empathy on the court, but critics say empathy has no place in 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. |
| Later at the Senate hearing, Sen Sessions said: "I will not vote for, and no senator should vote for, an individual nominated by any president who is not fully committed to fairness and impartiality." | |
| But Sen Leahy has insisted that Ms Sotomayor is a "mainstream judge". | 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. |