SONIA SOTOMAYOR, a New York federal judge who beat a path from a childhood spent on a housing estate to become America’s first Hispanic supreme court nominee, began a gruelling run of confirmation hearings in the US Senate yesterday.
Ms Sotomayor (55) is the first high court justice nominated by a Democrat in 15 years. She is President Barack Obama’s first opportunity to put his stamp on the court, although by replacing another liberal jurist she is not expected to alter the court’s political direction dramatically. Stellar academic credentials, years on the federal bench and status as a groundbreaking minority woman give Republican opponents little space to attack her qualifications or preparedness, and she is widely expected to win confirmation.
Republicans yesterday questioned her impartiality, warning she would let personal biases and ethnic prejudices colour her opinions. “From what she has said, she appears to believe that her role is not constrained to objectively decide who wins based on the weight of the law, but who, in her opinion, should win,” Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona said as Ms Sotomayor sat at the witness table.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican, said she would be confirmed barring a “meltdown”. But conservatives hope to weaken Mr Obama politically by disparaging his first judicial nominee. Mr Obama’s Democratic allies are playing up Ms Sotomayor’s humble upbringing in the Bronx, her studies at Princeton and Yale universities, and her 17 years of experience on the federal bench – more than any sitting supreme court justice. “Hers is a success story in which all – all – Americans can take pride,” Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said yesterday. “Let’s be fair to her and to the American people by not misrepresenting her views.”
Republicans are expected to challenge Ms Sotomayor about her views on abortion, the death penalty, same-sex marriage, the role of international law in American jurisprudence and racial issues. – ( Guardianservice)