Sessions says Sotomayor speeches show judicial philosophy ‘incompatible’ with US system

August 5th, 2009 Republicans, Democrats at odds in Sotomayor debateWASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are lining up to criticize Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as unfit for the bench while Democrats offer effusive praise of the judge whose confirmation this week as the first Hispanic justice is all but assured. The Senate is continuing a history-making debate on Sotomayor, dominated by Republican charges that she would bring bias to the court and assertions from Democrats that she's a mainstream moderate.

August 5th, 2009 Senate women join in praise of SotomayorWASHINGTON — The Senate's Democratic women took to the floor Wednesday to highlight the landmark nature of Sonia Sotomayor's impending confirmation as the first Hispanic and third female Supreme Court justice, as Latino leaders stressed the vote's importance to their community, a growing part of the electorate. While Republicans lined up to criticize Sotomayor as unfit for the bench, Democrats were preparing to declare political victory this week on confirmation of President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

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 26th, 2009 Ala. senator mum on his decision about SotomayorNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says he has made up his mind on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, but he's not ready to make his decision public.

July 24th, 2009 Utah's Hatch opposes Sotomayor nominationSALT LAKE CITY — Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch says he will vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

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 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 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 Graham talking more positively about SotomayorWASHINGTON — A Republican critic of Sonia Sotomayor says he's feeling more comfortable about her going to the Supreme Court, saying he hopes she won't let personal opinions drive her rulings. In an exchange with Sotomayor, Sen.

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 Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor 'out of mainstream' WASHINGTON — The leading Judiciary Committee Republican is charging that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is "out of the mainstream" of legal thinking and has a very activist judicial profile. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama made the assertion just hours before Sotomayor, who would be the third woman to join the court, was to face her initial confirmation hearing.

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, 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 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.

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.