OK, it's not as though we didn't see this one coming, but it is fun to point out:

Justice Sonia Sotomayor is getting into the swing of being a member of the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor made what appears to be her first public decision as a justice on Monday, voting unsuccessfully to delay the execution of an Ohio death row inmate.

She voted along with the court's liberal bloc _ Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer _ to stop the execution of Jason Getsy, whose execution is Tuesday.

And the sun came up in the east this morning...

Imagecolumn: 

With a newly minted sixty-vote Democrat majority in the US Senate, the approval of the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is all but assured.
But what isn’t assured is that it won’t cost the Democrats something before all the dust settles.  And that’s up to the Republicans.

Do they have what it takes to make her positions on hot-button issues so toxic that the Democrats from “purple” or “red” states who support her will find themselves in political hot water back home?
Her record represents just such an opportunity.

Before becoming a judge, Sotomayor was a leader of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF), even serving as the Chairman of its Litigation Committee.  And there we get a glimpse of some of the issues she was willing to lend her support to.

On abortion: On two separate occasions, the PRLDEF filed briefs arguing that taxpayer dollars must be used to fund abortions and further argued that restrictions on abortion were analogous to slavery.  They also argued against such modest abortion restrictions as parental notification or waiting periods on abortion.  read more »

Round and round they went yesterday, asking questions she either said she wouldn't answer, or "answering" in such a way that the person who asked the question (and everyone else) had no idea what she said or meant.

From the coverage:

Judge Sotomayor Is “Increasingly Avoiding” Questions. “She joked openly with members of the Judiciary Committee while increasingly avoiding their questions.” (Washington Post)

“By Midafternoon, Even Two Democrats On The Panel Sounded Frustrated By Her Long, Elusive Replies.” (Washington Post)
 
“Yesterday, It Was Striking To See Sotomayor Dance Around Issues, Decline To Defend Liberal Philosophy and go on to specifically reject the so-called legal approach of the man who nominated her, Barack Obama. It prompted Lindsey Graham to complain that she was sounding a lot like John Roberts -- and she did on some answers -- and ask, ‘Who are we getting here?’” (ABC)
 
Sotomayor Left “Both Conservative And Liberal Activists Troubled.” “Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor sidestepped questions on abortion, gun rights and gay rights Wednesday -- including whether a state could forbid aborting a 38-week-old fetus -- leaving both conservative and liberal activists troubled.” (LA Times)
 
“Sotomayor ‘Said Little About Her Own Understanding Of The Issues Underlying Roe.” “The Center for Reproductive Rights, a leading abortion rights group, this morning is calling for more questions on abortion, with President Nancy Northup complaining that Sotomayor ‘said little about her own understanding of the issues underlying Roe and the Court’s subsequent decisions on abortion rights.’” (ABC)  read more »

You've heard all about it, but maybe not ALL about it.  That being you've surely heard about Sotomayor's comment several years ago that ...‘A Wise Latina Woman’ Or ‘Wise Woman’ Judge Might ‘Reach A Better Conclusion’ Than A Male Judge.” (“Sotomayor Repeatedly Referenced 'Wise Woman' In Speeches,” CQ’s “Legal Beat” Blog, 6/4/09)

And you've probably heard her defense (and/or apology) for that remark in the last few days, telling senators in her confirmation hearings that it was a "rhetorical flourish that fell flat".Well, it turns out that she was so enamored of that "flourish", that she repeated it numerous times, just desperately hoping that it would "work" at least once I suppose.  But alas...In any event, for the record, here's a list of her other attempts to really "knock 'em dead" with that great flourish:

In 1994: "I Would Hope That A Wise Woman With The Richness Of Her Experience Would, More Often Than Not, Reach A Better Conclusion. What Is Better? I … Hope That Better Will Mean A More Compassionate And Caring Conclusion.” “Last Friday the White House argued that Judge Sonia Sotomayor's ‘word choice in 2001 was poor’ when she said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.’ Today, it undermined its case. An administration aide pointed out that in addition to the 2001 speech, in a 1994 speech Sotomayor used nearly identical language: ‘I would hope that a wise woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion. What is better? I … hope that better will mean a more compassionate and caring conclusion.’” (“More Better Judging,” Slate, 6/4/09)   read more »

More flip-floppery by Sotomayor...

The "Realism" school of law:

When questioned about whether or not she subscribes to the "realism" school of legal reasoning, she replied: “I Don’t Apply That Label To Myself At All.”  "That’s not quite words that I would use because there are many academics and judges who have talked about being legal realists, but I don’t apply that label to myself at all…”

Lindsey Graham then followed up:“So you would not be a disciple of the legal realism school?”  She replied: “No.”

So let's go to the tape!

From her article in the Suffolk University Law Review: “Returning Majesty To the Law and Politics: A Modern Approach,” 30 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 35 (1996) - "Judge Frank, A Founder Of The School Of Legal Realism’s] Thesis, Set Forth In 1930, Should Continue To Attract Examination Today.  It Supports A Pride That Lawyers Can Take In What They Do And How They Do It.  The Law Can Change Its Direction Entirely…”

On the use of international law in American courts:

On this issue, she tries to pretend she's with Scalia and Thomas.  In the hearings she stated that “I Have Actually Agreed With Justice Scalia And Thomas On The Point That One Has To Be Very Cautious Even In Using Foreign Law With Respect To The Things American Law Permits You To.”

But previously...

“And That Misunderstanding Is Unfortunately Endorsed By Some Of Our Supreme Court Justices  read more »

Who says people can't change (or flip-flop)?  Sotomayor has proven that you certainly can...especially when you get nominated to the Supreme Court and you've got some otherwise inconvenient statements or actions in your past that you need to have people overlook.

For example:

On impartiality, Sotomayor had previously suggested that "there is no objective stance"...

In the hearings she stated: "The process of judging is a process of keeping an open mind.  It's the process of not coming to a decision with a prejudgement ever of an outcome. (7/14/09)

But previously...

"There is no objective stance but only a series of perspectives...aspiration to impartiality...is just that, an aspiration..." (Women in the Judiciary, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, 4/30/99)

On whether "predjudices" are appropriate, she said "predjudices are appropriate"...

In the hearings, she stated, “[I] Would Not Prejudge Any Question That Came Before Me If I Was A Justice On The Supreme Court.”  And, “I Don't Pre-Judge Issues.”

But previously...

“I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and gender but attempt…continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate.” (Women in the Judiciary, 40th National Conference of Law Reviews. 3/17/94)  read more »

Here's a roundup of some of the media coverage from "Day Two" of the Sotomayor hearings...

(I think the bottom line so far is that the GOP still hasn't taken this one as far as they should, despite the fact that she is likely to be confirmed.)

The Politico: PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN: The Communications Center of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has set up a rapid-response operation that fired off seven documents yesterday in real time as the hearing. Amanda Henneberg has booked 25 TV interviews with GOP senators in the first couple of days of hearings.  (Playbook, Politico 7/14/09)

The Politico: PLAN OF ATTACK: A Republican Senate source lays out the GOP game plan for Day 2 of Sotomayor, saying they’ve set up a rapid response plan with multiple releases, GOP senator interviews and questions about Sotomayor’s “incomplete or unsatisfactory answers” Today’s focus will be pushback on her “fidelity to the law” remark from her opening statement, GOP sources say. Regardless, it’s going to be hard to bloody Sotomayor unless there’s a smoking gun. (The Huddle, Politico, 7/14/09)  read more »

In her bid to pooh pooh conservative fears (brought on by her judicial record) that she can't be relied upon to apply the law, instead of being a judicial activist, Sotomayor vowed "fidelity to the law" and told the Senate that she had not advocated for policy since she became a judge.

Of course, "advocating" for policy isn't necessary when you can "set policy", as she herself admitted that the Court of Appeals does.  And presumably she would know, since she's on the Second Circuit for the Court of Appeals.

In her statement to the Senate, she said:

"In the past month, many senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. It is simple: fidelity to the law," Judge Sotomayor told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The task of a judge is not to make the law - it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress intent; and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and my Circuit Court."

Now go back and reread that statement and you'll notice something very important.  "...my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statues according to their terms and Congress' intent..."  read more »

Be sure and take a moment to visit our "Supreme Court Action Center" and get the latest facts and info on Sotomayor, as well as links to other useful information to counter the liberal spin on her as a "mainstream" judge.

And be sure to let your senators know your concerns.

Remember folks, the Supreme Court is for life.

We're updating info in our Action Center pretty much every day now, so feel free to contact us with any additional info that you think would be useful.

Here's some of the info you can find in our Action Center:

On the Issues:

RACIAL PREFERENCES: In the case of Ricci v. DeStefano, Sotomayor sided with a city that used racially discriminatory practices to deny promotions to white firefighters because they performed better on a test designed to determine who should be promoted.  The US Supreme Court just overturned her decision in this case.  (more here)

SEPARATION OF POWERS: She has said that "the Court of Appeals is where policy is made", suggesting her acceptance that it's ok for judges to make policy, rather than our legislative branch.  (reference and video)  read more »

The Senate Judiciary Committee opened its confirmation hearings on Sotomayor today, which is to say they began with the usual round of prepared statements from senators...meaning the usual from each of them, which is to say that not much really exciting happened.  At least in the hearing room...

Unless you count a few outbursts from protestors.

And Chris Matthews getting a "thrill up his leg" today...

And the fact that Al Franken is now on the Judicary Committee (geezz).

But you do have to love what Jeff Sessions had to say in his opening statement:

“I will not vote for—no senator should vote for—an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices, or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court,” said Session (R-Ala.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. …

“Judge Sotomayor has said that she accepts that her opinions, sympathies, and prejudices will affect her rulings. Could it be that her time as a leader of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, a fine organization, provides a clue as to her decision against the firefighters?” Sessions said. “It seems to me that… Judge Sotomayor’s empathy for one group of firefighters turned out to be prejudice against the others.”