Minorities

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Senator Mike Johanns issued the following statement today after learning President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve as the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice:

"The confirmation of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is one of the most important votes a U.S. Senator makes," said Johanns.

"It is critical that any nominee to the Supreme Court have a strong record of objectively interpreting the law and applying the Constitution, not advancing an activist agenda.

"Therefore, I will be thoroughly reviewing Judge Sotomayor's record and will follow the upcoming committee hearings for a detailed look at her record and opinions before making a final decision."

Source: Senator Mike Johanns

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) made the following statement regarding President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Inhofe was one of 29 U.S. Senators that voted against Sotomayor's nomination to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998.

"Without doubt, Judge Sotomayor's personal life story is truly inspiring. I congratulate her on being nominated. As the U.S. Senate begins the confirmation process, I look forward to looking closer at her recent rulings and her judicial philosophy.    » read more »

Hutchison: “Our chief concern must be her commitment to the rule of law”

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - On the nomination of federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today released the following statement:

“Confirming Supreme Court nominees is one of the Senate’s most important responsibilities.

"As the Senate carefully reviews the qualifications of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, our chief concern must be her commitment to the rule of law.

"I look forward to a fair and open confirmation process as we work to ensure our next Supreme Court Justice will defend and protect the Constitution through impartial judgment and judicial restraint,” said Sen. Hutchison.    » read more »

May 26th, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the senior Republican and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement today regarding the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court:

“I congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination and commend President Obama for nominating the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to the United States Supreme Court.

"The confirmation process must focus on determining whether Judge Sotomayor is qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) issued the following statement today after learning that President Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Judge Sotomayor is extremely qualified.

"She has the intellect and experiences necessary to serve on our nation’s highest Court. In addition to her nearly 17 years on the federal bench – having been appointed by both Presidents Bush and Clinton – she has unique life experiences that I believe are critical to ensure that the Court truly embodies the diversity of our country and understands how the law impacts ordinary Americans.

“I am confident that Judge Sotomayor will be an important voice on our Court for the rule of law and constitutional rights and values.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- “Today, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

"I congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination and look forward to carefully reviewing her qualifications.

"One of the most constitutionally significant responsibilities of the Senate is to confirm the nomination of Supreme Court Justices.

"Therefore I expect the Senate will give this nomination a thorough, fair review.”

Source: Senator Judd Gregg

May 26, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley issued the comment below about the nomination today by President Obama of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Senator Grassley is a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the nomination will be considered.

"A lifetime appointment requires a thorough vetting, and I expect Judge Sotomayor to receive fair and deliberative consideration.    » read more »

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Graham is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I do not know Judge Sotomayor. I look forward to meeting with her and discussing the important issues confronting the court.

“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I intend to be fair and firm in my questioning of the nominee. The hearings can be a valuable public service as they give us a window into the nominee’s judicial philosophy and disposition. I hope we will have a meaningful opportunity to explore the qualifications, judicial temperament and judicial philosophy of Judge Sotomayor.    » read more »

Senators Gillibrand, Schumer Made Direct Appeal to President Recommending Judge Sotomayor to Serve As First Ever Latino to the Supreme Court

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand praised President Barack Obama’s historic move to select Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. Earlier this month, Senators Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer sent a personal letter to President Obama recommending that he appoint Judge Sotomayor to serve as the first Latino on the nation’s highest court.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- “The President has chosen a very solid and tested woman as his nominee for the United States Supreme Court.

Sonia Sotomayor has served as a New York City prosecutor and she has been a federal judge for over 15 years. She has already been confirmed by the Senate twice – first as a federal trial court judge and then as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The nomination is clearly historic in that she would be the first Latina, and the third woman ever, to sit on the Supreme Court.

I know there are those who will try to delay this nominee. However, I believe it is important that she has a clear opportunity for a fair and open nomination process, and that her nomination can move rapidly to the floor of the Senate and be confirmed.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- “I congratulate Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her nomination to the United States Supreme Court and President Obama on his first Supreme Court nomination.

"I supported Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1998 and from all accounts, she is a highly qualified and very experienced judge. Judge Sotomayor’s nomination marks a historic moment for our nation.

"She is the first Hispanic American to be nominated to our nation’s highest court and if confirmed, she would be just the third woman to serve on the Court.

"Evaluating a Supreme Court nominee is a responsibility I take very seriously considering the significant impact a Supreme Court justice can have on our country.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Las Vegas, N.V. -- Senator John Ensign, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, released the following statement after President Obama announced that Sonia Sotomayor is his nominee to be the next Supreme Court Justice.

"The American judicial system is a towering example of freedom and liberty to the world.

"Throughout the confirmation process, I will work with my colleagues and thoroughly review Judge Sotomayor's record to make sure she has the right intellect and understands the proper role of a judge–to interpret and apply the written law, not to decide cases based on personal feelings, politics or preferences.

"The confirmation process is just that –a process.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.

“President Obama has made an outstanding and historic choice in his selection of New York Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court.

Her compelling life story and three decade career in nearly every aspect of the law provide Judge Sotomayor with unique qualifications to be the next Supreme Court justice. She has been called “one of the ablest federal judges currently sitting” and would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any jurist in 100 years.    » read more »

Historic Nomination Would Place the First Hispanic on the Supreme Court

May 26, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today after President Barack Obama announced his choice of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

“President Obama has promised to bring change to Washington and he continues to do that with his choice for Supreme Court Justice. Judge Sotomayor is a highly qualified and historic nominee.

"She would bring extensive legal experience and a unique perspective to the Supreme Court.

"I look forward to the Senate’s consideration of her nomination over the next few weeks.”

Source: Senator Chris Dodd

May 26, 2009 - Greenville, S.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, made the following statement about President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to serve as Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.

"The President has done his part, but now it's up the Senate to determine Judge Sotomayor's qualifications.

"Some of her writings seem to raise serious questions about her approach to the Constitution and the role of the federal judiciary, but I will withhold judgment about her nomination until she has the opportunity to fully present her views before the Senate."

“Every Senator swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution.    » read more »