Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 CONFIRMATION HEARINGS 
37

Sotomayor: Roe v. Wade Is 'Settled Law'

Share

(Newser) – Questioning is under way on Day 2 of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, and there has already been much talk of New Haven firefighters and wise Latina women. Asked about that infamous quote early on, Sotomayor replied, “I want to state upfront, unequivocally… I do not believe that any racial or ethnic group has an advantage in sound judging.” She also argued that she was just following precedent in Ricci v. Destafano.

Jeff Sessions wasn't buying it, asking if Sotomayor believed in "real law," and bringing up quotes suggesting she believed her past sympathies influenced her rulings. Sotomayor insisted she strove to remain impartial. Asked about abortion, Sotomayor didn't quibble, saying Roe v. Wade was "settled law," as reaffirmed by Planned Parenthood v. Casey. On the Second Amendment, she said her ruling upholding New York's nunchakus control law was a narrow one, applying to the martial arts weapon.

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
37 comments
VIEWING:
 
IN RESPONSE:
DeniseVB
Jul 14, 09 9:52 AM CDT
Franken said she was the most qualified SCOTUS nominee in 100 years! Heh.
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Jul 14, 09 10:10 AM CDT
You have a better candidate Denise?
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jul 14, 09 10:24 AM CDT
DeniseVB. And I bet you Stuart Smalley thinks he's the most qualified senator in 100 years!
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
professortech
Jul 14, 09 11:14 AM CDT
next time you choose to state an opinion engage your brain and get some facts. The American Bar Association rates her as very highly qualified. an impartial review of her record and her judicials service shows that she is more widely experienced in all forms of judicial practice than any judge sitting or appointed within the last 40 years. Solomon himself if appointed by a Democratic would no doubt raise conservative jets of vitrol and knee- jerk republican reactionism.
Vote up! Vote down!
+8
IN RESPONSE:
John
Jul 14, 09 11:34 AM CDT
Sessions is the damaged goods, and one dumb SOB on top of it. What a redneck he is!!!
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 37 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

129 Stories

Supreme Court Won't Spare Beltway Sniper

Execution set for tomorrow as request for more time fails

Nov 9, 09 3:47 PM CST
(Newser) - The Supreme Court has rejected an emergency appeal from John Allen Muhammad, also known as the Beltway sniper, clearing the way for his execution tomorrow. Muhammad’s lawyers said he needed more time to prepare his appeals. Although justices Stevens, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor questioned Virginia law for not affording convicts... More »

MORE ABOUT:
death penalty • Ruth Bader Ginsburg • execution • John Paul Stevens • US Supreme Court • sniper • John Allen Muhammad • Lee Boyd Malvo • Sonia Sotomayor • Beltway Sniper

INTERVIEW

Justice Stevens Hints He'll Retire This Term

Liberal stalwart, at age 89, admits, 'I'm not exactly a kid'

Oct 19, 09 6:01 AM CDT
(Newser) - John Paul Stevens, the senior justice on the Supreme Court and the bench's liberal lion, says he gave serious thought to retiring—in the late 1980s, when he was 65 years old. Instead, while younger colleagues have packed their bags, Stevens has become the court's master tactician, cobbling together narrow... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg • retirement • John Paul Stevens • federal judges • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor • Supreme Court justice

 Sotomayor: 
 White House 
 Picked My 
 Clothes 

Justice describes grueling nomination process at Yale

Oct 19, 09 1:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Every aspect of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination procedure to become the newest Supreme Court justice was so controlled that she was even told what to wear at the acceptance ceremony, she said in a talk at Yale yesterday. Sotomayor, who appeared on campus for her 30th Yale Law School reunion, wanted... More »

MORE ABOUT:
New Haven • Yale Law School • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor • Supreme Court justice

129 Stories


Politics  •  Crime & Courts  •  US 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Jeff Sessions • Patrick Leahy • Senate confirmation hearings • confirmation hearings • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor • Ricci v. DeStefano

from our news partners