Senators gavel Sotomayor hearings to order amid high expectations and political intrigue

July 27th, 2009 GOP Sen. Sessions to oppose SotomayorWASHINGTON — The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Monday he'll vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, siding with his party's leaders against the judge who's on a fast track to becoming the first Hispanic justice. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., weighed in on President Barack Obama's first high court choice the day before his panel is scheduled to vote on her nomination.

July 23rd, 2009 NRA warns senators Sotomayor vote will be ratedWASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association is warning senators that it will consider their votes on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as part of its influential annual ratings of lawmakers. The NRA says President Barack Obama's first high court nominee has a hostile view of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

July 16th, 2009 Specter to Sotomayor: Confirmation seems certainWASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter has told Judge Sonia Sotomayor he thinks it's pretty certain she'll be confirmed for a seat on the Supreme Court.

July 16th, 2009 Sotomayor hearing has winners, losersJudge Sonia Sotomayor is likely headed to the Supreme Court, but not unscathed. A Republican inquisitor at her confirmation hearings, Sen.

July 14th, 2009 Sotomayor hearings: not exactly must-see TVNEW YORK — The most eye-catching thing about Tuesday's TV coverage of the Sotomayor hearings? The bright red jacket worn by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor for her second day before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The cardinal hue of the nominee's attire didn't minimize, or upstage, the gravity of the occasion: her questioning for confirmation to the nation's highest court.

July 14th, 2009 Sotomayor: 'Open mind' key to effective judgingWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has told the Senate Judiciary Committee that she believes it's important that judges keep "an open mind" about cases before them. On Day 2 of her confirmation hearings, the native of South Bronx got to answer senators' questions for the first time publicly about what style she would bring to the nation's highest court.

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 13th, 2009 Dem praise, GOP doubts at Sotomayor hearing startWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats praised Sonia Sotomayor as a judicial pioneer, but Republicans questioned her impartiality and President Barack Obama's views as well Monday at confirmation hearings for the nation's first Hispanic nominee to the Supreme Court. "She's been a judge for all Americans.

July 13th, 2009 Sotomayor arrives, Supreme Court hearing under wayWASHINGTON — Sonia Sotomayor took her seat for Supreme Court confirmation hearings on Monday as Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee renewed their weeks-long debate over her qualifications to render justice impartially. "She's not far left.

July 13th, 2009 Sotomayor hearing starts with Leahy praiseWASHINGTON — On the cusp of history, Sonia Sotomayor listened intently in a packed Senate hearing room Monday as lawmakers began confirmation hearings on her appointment as the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. "She's been a judge for all Americans.

July 12th, 2009 GOP: Sotomayor must assure she can be neutralWASHINGTON — Two Republican senators on Sunday said they will press Sonia Sotomayor at her Supreme Court confirmation hearings this week to explain public comments that they say raise doubts about her ability to judge cases fairly. Yet the GOP is unlikely to be able to derail Sotomayor's confirmation in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and Republicans acknowledged they must be careful in their approach to the veteran federal judge who rose from poverty in a New York City public housing project to the verge of being the first Hispanic justice on the high court.

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.

June 16th, 2009 Sotomayor defends membership in women's clubWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor (SOHN'-yuh soh-toh-my-YOR') says an elite all-women's club she belongs to doesn't discriminate unfairly by gender. Sotomayor tells senators in a letter that the Belizean (buh-LEE'-zee-uhn) Grove lets men speak at events and participate in trips.

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 29th, 2009 Sotomayor to meet with senators next weekWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee will hold her first meetings with senators next week. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor will meet Tuesday with Democratic Sens.