Results tagged “senatejudiciaryhearing”

Mayor Bloomberg was running a tad late today when he flew down to Washington on his private plane in order to testify on behalf of Sonia Sotomayor. The mayor quickly livened up what have been my most accounts slow-going confirmation hearings with the early line, "I strongly believe that she should be supported by Republicans, Democrats and independents. And I should know because I've been all three."

At the start of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings with the Senate Judiciary Committee, various senators had their say. While Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) said, "She is a judge in which all Americans can have confidence. She has been a judge for all Americans and will be a Justice for all Americans"±and told his fellow committee members, "Let no one demean this extraordinary woman, her success, or her understanding of the constitutional duties she has faithfully performed for the last 17 years"—Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) blasted President Obama's desire for "empathy" in a Supreme Court Justice. Graham added, "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed,"and he doubts she will have a meltdown. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) continued to question her fairness, "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." You can see the hearings live at MSNBC.com.