Review of Sotomayor's Record Belies GOP Charges of Biased Judicial Practice

On Capitol Hill, the confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are entering a third day. If confirmed, Sotomayor will become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

On Tuesday the questioning of Sotomayor began. Democratic Senators praised her 17 years on the federal bench while Republican repeatedly grilled her about statements she has made during a series of speeches over the years.

Near the beginning of the hearing, Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, asked Sotomayor to explain her 2001 comment that a “wise Latina” might arrive at a better legal decision than a white man.

Senator Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also questioned Sotomayor about some of her previous statements about the role of judges.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina challenged Sonia Sotomayor about her demeanor on the bench.

And Democratic Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin briefly asked Sonia Sotomayor about abortion, but she was never asked explicitly if she is in favor of abortion rights.

Excerpts of Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, from July 14, 2009.