Home » Sonia Sotomayor - Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor i ntensifies.

 

If some of the statements given during the opening of these hearings are any indication, we will have nothing more than partisan posturing with the Republicans coming out on the short end of the stick. Perhaps they have forgotten the majority in both Houses belongs to the Democrats, therefore,they should just ask pertinent questions and wait for Sotomayor's answers.

 

There is one person that should not ask even one question during these proceedings. That person is Senator Jeff Sessions (R - Alabama),the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Sessions was denied a Federal District judgeship in 1986 because of a somewhat checkered past. There was testimony during his hearing where he made statements such as calling the Civil Rights Act "a piece of intrusive legislation". He is also alleged to have called the NAACP and the ACLU "Un- American" and "communist inspired".

 

This is a man who has the nerve to actually want to question a nominee for the highest court in the nation? Surely he will try to make some past statement of Sotomayor into a "Anti-American" stance on some issue.

 

Sessions says that Sotomayor comes with "prejudices?" Is she not allowed to bring her life experiences with her to the Supreme Court? Do we not all have different life experiences, growing up in different cultures? This is part of the mosaic that makes up the United States of America. The Supreme Court should be a reflection of the population of the United States. Black, White, Latino or Latina, whichever qualified candidate of any race or gender should be considered. There have been 110 Supreme Court justices, two of which have been women.

 

Simply ask her the tough questions, await her responses, consider the information, and vote accordingly. Perhaps Sessions should leave the room when it is his turn to speak, so that we don't get caught up in political nonsense.

 

P.S. Republicans, be careful. Go after Sotomayor too hard, and she will sail through the process. Take the lead of Sen. Lindsey Graham, and see the light. He knows she will win the nomination.