Republicans protest Democrats’ quick timetable for Sotomayor hearings

August 6th, 2009 GOP Sen. Gregg to vote for SotomayorWASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg says he'll vote for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, breaking with most of his fellow Republicans.

July 21st, 2009 Judiciary Republicans delay Sotomayor vote 1 weekWASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee has put off its vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor (SOHN'-ya soh-toh-my-YOR') for one week after Republicans asked for a delay. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy says the vote will occur on July 28.

July 20th, 2009 GOP, divided on Sotomayor, won't drag out debateWASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, divided over whether to confirm Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic justice, aren't planning a drawn-out floor debate on her nomination. GOP senators on the Judiciary Committee plan to block a panel vote scheduled for Tuesday, delaying the committee's action on President Barack Obama's first high court nominee until July 28.

July 16th, 2009 Democrats to set first Sotomayor vote next weekWASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman says he'll set a vote in his panel next week on confirming Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy says the vote will be Tuesday unless committee Republicans object.

July 14th, 2009 Sotomayor to face senators' questions at hearingsWASHINGTON — Senate Republicans plan to confront Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor with her own words, taken from speeches dating back 15 years, as they try to raise doubts about her ability to judge fairly. Sotomayor's confirmation hearing resumes in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday with question-and-answer rounds that are expected to stretch over two days and possibly into a third.

July 13th, 2009 Sotomayor arrives for hearingWASHINGTON — Sonia Sotomayor has arrived for her Senate Supreme Court confirmation hearing. As the week of hearings begins, Republicans and Democrats on the Judiciary Committee are renewing their debate over her qualifications to render justice impartially.

July 12th, 2009 Obama phones Sotomayor on eve of hearingsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has called his Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, to wish her luck at her confirmation hearings. The White House says Obama called the appellate court judge from the Oval Office on Sunday.

July 12th, 2009 Cornyn: Sotomayor must explain 'Latina' remarkWASHINGTON — A top Senate Republican says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will have to explain statements suggesting that judges can't be neutral, but he also acknowledges that her confirmation as the high court's first Hispanic justice won't be blocked. Texas Sen. John Cornyn tells "Fox News Sunday" that he and other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee plan to ask Sotomayor about her comment in 2001 that she hoped a "wise Latina" would often reach better conclusions than a white male without similar experiences.

June 28th, 2009 GOP leader says time needed for Sotomayor recordsWASHINGTON — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday the committee preparing for hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor needs time to review 300 boxes of records that recently turned up in connection with her work for a legal advocacy group. McConnell, R-Ky., said the Senate Judiciary Committee needs to examine the materials from the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, now known as LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

June 12th, 2009 SPIN METER: What's in a date? It's about leverageWASHINGTON — The spat between Republicans and Democrats about when to hold hearings on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation really has nothing to do with the calendar. It's all about the minority GOP — lacking the votes or the political will to block the judge — showing it's not willing to just roll over for President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

June 11th, 2009 Republicans rip Democrats for Sotomayor 'rush'WASHINGTON — Republicans accused Democrats Wednesday of moving too hastily on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, warning that the decision could imperil her confirmation as they pressed the judge for more documents from her past. The top Senate Republican blasted Democrats' decision to schedule mid-July hearings for Sotomayor's confirmation, while another senior GOP senator floated the possibility of a filibuster by angry Republicans against President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

June 10th, 2009 Top Republican rips Democrats for Sotomayor 'rush'WASHINGTON — Republicans accused Democrats Wednesday of moving too hastily on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, warning that the decision could imperil her confirmation as they pressed the judge for more documents from her past. The top Senate Republican blasted Democrats' decision to schedule mid-July hearings for Sotomayor's confirmation, while another senior GOP senator floated the possibility of a filibuster by angry Republicans against President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

June 4th, 2009 White House builds case for swift confirmationWASHINGTON — The White House says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's quick response to an extensive Senate survey should lead to swift confirmation hearings. White House counsel Gregory Craig said Sotomayor (soh-toh-my-YOR') completed substantive answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee's questions in nine days.

June 3rd, 2009 Sotomayor makes rounds on Capitol HillWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is racing through a crucial set of meetings with senators on Capitol Hill, working to reassure Republicans who worry she'd bring ethnic and gender bias to her decisions. Sotomayor, who would be the high court's first Hispanic and third woman, is telling senators in both parties that while her background has shaped her worldview, she believes in following the law and wouldn't let her life experiences inappropriately influence her judging.

May 31st, 2009 GOP senator: Stop calling Sotomayor a 'racist'WASHINGTON — The top Republican involved in the confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee says he would prefer his colleagues refrain from calling Sonia Sotomayor a racist. Sen. Jeff Sessions said Sunday that he would prefer fellow Republicans stop attacking Sotomayor over remarks about her background as a daughter of Puerto Rican parents.