Tuesday
Jul212009
Republicans Postpone Sotomayor Vote
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 10:54AM
By Matthew S. Schwartz
Legal Affairs Correspondent - Talk Radio News Service
The confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor may be a sure thing, but Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have requested a one-week delay in the committee vote.
Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he was "disappointed" by the delay, but "they have a right to put it over." Republicans informed him over the weekend of their intent to delay the vote to next Tuesday. If the committee approves her, the vote will go to the full Senate floor.
Leahy stressed the importance of confirming Sotomayor quickly, as the Supreme Court reconvenes early next term to hear a case on the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. "I hope that once she is passed out of this committee, there will be no delay on the floor, because she will have a very, very few weeks after she is confirmed to move to Washington" and prepare for the case, he said. "Delay would not help either her or the Supreme Court."
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.) said that even with the delay, "Confirmation, if it occurs, will occur sooner than even John Roberts." Chief Justice Roberts began his Judiciary Committee hearings on Sept. 12, 2005, and was confirmed by the full Senate on Sept. 29.
Just 10 members of the 19-member Judiciary Committee showed up Tuesday, the minimum needed for committee business to take place.
Leahy told reporters he doesn't know how long the floor debate will last, but it should be quick because senators should all know how they plan to vote by the time the official debate starts.
Legal Affairs Correspondent - Talk Radio News Service
The confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor may be a sure thing, but Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have requested a one-week delay in the committee vote.
Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he was "disappointed" by the delay, but "they have a right to put it over." Republicans informed him over the weekend of their intent to delay the vote to next Tuesday. If the committee approves her, the vote will go to the full Senate floor.
Leahy stressed the importance of confirming Sotomayor quickly, as the Supreme Court reconvenes early next term to hear a case on the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. "I hope that once she is passed out of this committee, there will be no delay on the floor, because she will have a very, very few weeks after she is confirmed to move to Washington" and prepare for the case, he said. "Delay would not help either her or the Supreme Court."
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.) said that even with the delay, "Confirmation, if it occurs, will occur sooner than even John Roberts." Chief Justice Roberts began his Judiciary Committee hearings on Sept. 12, 2005, and was confirmed by the full Senate on Sept. 29.
Just 10 members of the 19-member Judiciary Committee showed up Tuesday, the minimum needed for committee business to take place.
Leahy told reporters he doesn't know how long the floor debate will last, but it should be quick because senators should all know how they plan to vote by the time the official debate starts.
Sen. Lindsey Graham Says He'll Vote "Yes" For Sotomayor
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced today that he would vote in favor of Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a decision that goes against many of his Republican colleagues.
“While I’m not bound to vote for Judge Sotomayor, it would be the path to least political resistance for me...We’re talking about one of the most qualified nominees to be selected for the Supreme Court in decades. She has 17 years of judicial experience, 12 of those years she was on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. I’ve looked at her record closely. I believe that she follows precedent,” said Graham.
Graham also addressed the controversial speeches, particularly the now famous “wise Latina” comments, that many of Sotomayor’s opposers continue to use as a reason to vote against her. Those who oppose Sotomayor claim that those comments indicate that she is a racist and that she will be an “activist” judge who bases her decisions on her feelings rather than the law.
“To my colleagues who vote ‘no’, I understand your concerns and there are things about this nominee that are troubling. The speeches. The speeches that she has given in the past are troubling because I think they embrace identity politics. Something I don’t embrace. The ‘wise Latina’ comment...we had a long discussion about how that does not sit well with most Americans and that is not what we want to be expressed by people trying to become Supreme Court nominees.”
Graham also took the time to say that though he may strongly disagree with a decision she has made here and there, it doesn’t matter to him, just as long as Sotomayor is qualified for the position.
“The advocacy role of a lawyer is unique. I have represented people who I disagree with. I have represented people who were accused of child molesting. I have been a criminal defense lawyer. There’s nothing more noble in our system in making the government prove their case regardless of how you feel about the defendant,” said Graham.
“I didn’t choose her, but I understand why President Obama did choose her and I am happy to vote for her,” said Graham.