Sotomayor's Confirmation Exemplifies Importance Of Latinos In The U.S., Says Sen. Menendez

"The moment when Justice Sotomayor takes the bench... that will be a moment that crystallizes the importance of the roles that latinos play in our great nation," says Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) during a press conference Wednesday (0:21)
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Schumer Describes Sotomayor As Inspirational

Sen. Charles Schumer says during a rally for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor that "it is time" for a Hispanic woman to be confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice. He also says that she can serve as inspiration for young Hispanics. "You can achieve the stars in America just like Sonia Sotomayor has done," says Schumer. (0:36)
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America Changed For The Better With Sotomayor Selection, Says Sen. Graham

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor could inspire young women, particularly young latinas, to enter a career in law. The Senator goes on to say that America changed for the better following her selection. (0:22)
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Lindsey Graham The Only Republican On Judiciary Committee To Back Sotomayor

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says he's voting to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Supreme Court Justice despite the fact that she is not someone he would have chosen. He says his decision became easier for him as the hearings went on. Graham says he is basing his vote on Sotomayor's qualifications and that he came away from the hearings believing she is well suited for the position. (0:40)
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Graham Says He's Voting For Sotomayor Because She Follows Rule Of Law

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that his reason for voting "yes" for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor was not based on what he described as President Obama's view that the "heart" of a judge could potentially determine the outcome of a controversial case. Rather, Graham said we should value judges based on their ability to stick to the rule of law. (1:29)
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Look At Sotomayor's Resume, Not At Her Speeches, Says Graham

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said today that he believes Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's past speeches do not reflect her record and decisions as a judge. Graham contends that he has probably made some speeches that some people did not like also, but that he hoped those people would also look at his work as a politician, not as a speech-maker. (0:45)
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Graham: Sotomayor Not An Activist Judge

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-N.C.) advises his colleagues in the Senate to look at Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor's record as a judge, not at her personal opinions. (0:12)
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NPR Correspondent Juan Williams: Sotomayor Will Respect Precedent

NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams says that he expects Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to adhere to precedent and stay within the mainstream when making decisions. (0:16)
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Judges Aren't Lawmakers, Says Sotomayor

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asks Judge Sonia Sotomayor whether or not she believes judges make the law. She says no, but they do change the way of viewing the law. Sotomayor adds that they change their thinking based on things like: facts, theories and affirmations. (0:52)
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Sotomayor Says Judges Must Let The Law Guide Them

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says life experiences generally help her to listen and understand, but she believes that all judges ultimately must rely on the law to command the results in a case. (0:35)
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Sotomayor Admits "Wise Latina" Remarks Failed

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor touches upon her speech that included the "wise Latina" comment during her confirmation hearing Wednesday. She says it is clear from the attention her words have received, that her words failed. (0:13)
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Sotomayor Inspired By TV Lawyer

During her confirmation hearing Wednesday, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor tells Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) that the television show Perry Mason inspired her to become a prosecutor. She describes one episode in which the prosecutor says their job is to "do justice and justice is served when a guilty man is convicted and an innocent man is not." She says she thought the idea of serving in that role was quite amazing. (0:54)
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Sotomayor Defends Her Consistency With The Rule Of Law

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor defends her decision making process and advises Senators to look at her record for proof that she is consistent with the rule of law. Though she said she recognizes that there are situations in which one may feel empathy for someone else, she reaffirmed that the rule of law is final. (1:01)
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Sotomayor Discusses Detention of Japanese Americans During WWII

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor discusses the detention of Japanese Americans during World War II, a practice that was upheld by the Supreme Court of the time. "A judge should never rule from fear," she says. "A judge should rule from law and the Constitution." (0:23)
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Sotomayor Rejects Empathy Standard

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says that the "empathy standard" advanced by President Obama as one that marks a good judge is not necessarily one that she would use in her own judicial philosophy. "Judges can't rely on what's in their heart." (0:36)
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Feinstein Defends Sotomayor, Says Nominee Not An Activist Judge

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) defends Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor from her critics, saying that a "reserved" and "factual" judge is being inaccurately "characterized as being an activist." She says that Sotomayor has ruled alongside Republican judicial appointees a vast majority of the time. (0:58)
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Sessions Questions Sotomayor About Impartial Judgement

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says that he agrees with the statements on impartiality that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has made during her confirmation hearings, but he says that her record suggests that she believes a judge's personal experiences should impact his interpretation of the law. (0:48)
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Sotomayor Clarifies "Wise Latina Woman" Comment

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says that life experiences will affect a judge's thinking, but that these experiences should be set aside to provide an impartial result based on the law. (0:52)
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Sotomayor Says Race And Gender Do Not Necessarily Affect Good Judgement

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says that her comments regarding a "wise Latina woman" have been misunderstood. She says that she does not believe that any person is more capable of good judgment based on their race or gender. (0:42)
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Sotomayor's Judicial Philosophy Is Fidelity To The Law

During her confirmation hearing Monday, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor described her judicial philosophy as "fidelity to the law." Sotomayor went on to say that she has a "record of rigourous commitment" to the interpretation of the Constitution according to established precedents and the intents of Congress. (0:36)
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