Sessions cracks up Sotomayor hearing with ‘crack cocaine’ misstatement

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 19th, 2009 Sessions remains troubled by Sotomayor's recordWASHINGTON — The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says he remains troubled by some of Sonia Sotomayor's remarks and rulings. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama says he isn't ready to say whether he will vote for or against President Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court.

July 16th, 2009 Sessions to do that 'crack cocaine' thing?WASHINGTON — It's pretty certain that Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., didn't mean what he said.

July 16th, 2009 Kyl decries heat at Sotomayor confirmation hearingWASHINGTON — As interrogation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor resumed, housekeeping items were front and center. Republican Sen.

July 16th, 2009 Sotomayor defies Coburn on gun rights argumentWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor bluntly told a Republican senator there was no way she would say in the setting of a congressional hearing just how she'd rule on an important constitutional question. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma pressed Sotomayor for the second day in a row to say under what circumstances she might accept — or rule — that there is a "fundamental" right to bear arms, as opposed to an "individual," or less pervasive, right.

July 16th, 2009 Sotomayor testimony completedWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has completed three days of answering questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The panel's top Republican, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, said he expects a Senate floor vote to come before the August recess.

July 16th, 2009 Sotomayor can get by on justice's payWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says she's lived on a judge's salary for 17 years, and she can, in her words, "suffer through more of it." Supreme Court justices make a little more than $200,000 a year. Sotomayor was responding Thursday to questions from Republican Sen.

July 14th, 2009 Sotomayor defends 'wise Latina' remarkWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor stoutly denied racial bias Tuesday at her Senate confirmation hearing and said an oft-criticized remark about her Hispanic heritage affecting her decisions was a rhetorical device gone awry. An attempted play on words "fell flat" in a speech in 2001, Sotomayor told Sen.

July 14th, 2009 Protester removed from Sotomayor hearingWASHINGTON — An anti-abortion activist has been removed from Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court confirmation hearing, the fifth demonstrator to disrupt the proceedings in two days. It took a half-dozen Capitol Police officers to remove the struggling protester from the hearing room Tuesday after he yelled, "She's a baby killer." Four protesters were arrested Monday and charged with unlawful conduct-disruption of Congress.

July 13th, 2009 Franken speaks at Sotomayor hearing: no jokeWASHINGTON — The newest member of the Senate, former comedian Al Franken, was as serious as his colleagues in his opening statement at the Senate confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Franken said he is "truly humbled" to be on the Judiciary Committee.

July 13th, 2009 Sessions gives Sotomayor tough greeting at hearingWASHINGTON — The top-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee has greeted Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor with skepticism. Sen. Jeff Sessions on Monday cited Sotomayor's much-publicized remarks about the notion that a "wise Latina" woman might be better suited than a white male without the same life experiences.

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 Sessions: Sotomayor must show she can be neutralWASHINGTON — The senior Republican senator who will question Sonia Sotomayor says the Supreme Court nominee must demonstrate she will not show bias on the bench. Alabama Sen.

June 9th, 2009 Republicans balk at Sotomayor hearing dateWASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are protesting Democrats' decision to schedule confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor for July 13, saying they need more time to review her record. Alabama Sen.

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.