12 seconds ago 2009-11-10T12:05:02-08:00
For Sotomayor's cousins in Puerto Rico, the hearings are cause for a family reunion.
Bakery owner Jose Baez says the judge's relatives are recording the televised sessions and plan to gather later Monday to talk about how things are going.
Sotomayor was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, but many people on the Caribbean island -- especially her many cousins in the western region -- have eagerly claimed her as their own.
Baez says they have been in touch with relatives in Washington, including Sotomayor's mother, who reported the judge was "calm and confident."
"We are thankful for the support she has, including here on the island," the 54-year-old Baez said. "We know what this means for minorities, especially for Puerto Ricans."
Sotomayor's mother grew up in the rural western village of Santa Rosa before moving to the coastal city of Mayaguez. Officials say her relatives have become police officers, firefighters and local legislators.
Baez said Sotomayor's new fame is bringing the extended family closer together than ever.
-Michael Melia, AP reporter in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
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Friendly face in the crowd
Mon Jul 13, 2:40 pm ET
There's a familiar face sitting in the audience who has not been introduced, sporting a light-blue lapel button with Sotomayor's name, encircled in stars.
"Do you think this is tacky?" Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., asked me. (I said no.)
Button or no button, he's a fan. Like Sotomayor, Serrano is Puerto Rican and grew up in the Bronx. He's testifying on her behalf later in the week.
He arrived at 12:30 p.m. during lunch and has been sitting in the hearing room awaiting her testimony later in the day. Serrano said that his House subcommittee oversees appropriations for the Supreme Court. That means that every year two justices testify before him.
"I'm hoping next year it's so-and-so -- and Sonia," Serrano said.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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Brief interlude: A look at other Supreme Courts
Mon Jul 13, 2:36 pm ET
We thought you’d find information about the planet’s other high courts to be – apologies here – appealing.
BRITAIN: Builders are putting the finishing touches on Britain's gleaming and gargoyle-garnished new Supreme Court, which launches in October as part of wider reforms. The country's current top court is a group of 12 senior judges given seats as "Law Lords" in the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament, by the Queen – after their nomination by senior officials including the prime minister. The new court — appointed by a legal committee with the Queen and premier removed from the process – will reside apart from the legislature. Like the Law Lords the new court will also serve as the final point of appeal for dozens of current and former British territories including Jamaica and Bermuda.
IRAQ: Iraq has a nine-member federal Supreme Court created in 2004, a year after the ouster of Saddam Hussein by U.S.-led forces. A judicial council nominates candidates to the court and the presidency then approves the final nine. The court reviews decisions taken by the legislature and executive for constitutionality, ratifies elections and is considered a vital instrument in Iraq's halting efforts to rebuild after decades of dictatorship and war. Under an emerging new structure justices might be approved through a parliamentary vote.
-Compiled by Dan Perry, AP's Europe-Africa editor, from London with contributions from AP reporters around the world
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And, they're up
Mon Jul 13, 2:31 pm ET
Specter and Franken fans, assume your positions before the TV.
There's a fair bit of suspense surrounding the statements of Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. Specter, the former chairman-turned-junior member after switching parties, is loathe to release his remarks ahead of time, a trait that sometimes vexes his staff and reporters. But expect him to veer far beyond the stock statements of other senators. He's chaired one more high court confirmation hearing than even Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. And he's done GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions' job as the lead Republican.
As for Franken, this is really his debut. The fact that he's here at all was a top priority of majority Democrats. He's their 60th vote, after winning an eight-month recount battle against GOP incumbent Norm Coleman. What Franken will say is still not known, but there are plenty of tweeters and folks in the room who will draw their first impression largely from his statement.
Franken emphatically denied being a funny senator. But surely he knows that the best way to warm up a crowd is to make 'em laugh.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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View from the @AP_Courtside insider
Mon Jul 13, 2:23 pm ET
During the lunch break, we chatted with Laurie Kellman, our AP reporter serving as your eyes and ears inside the Judiciary Committee hearing room.
Q: What's your take on the hearing so far?
A: They're pretty predictable. The Republicans went on her harder than expected though. The Democrats are pretty much repeating the talking points that they have been repeating for weeks. The interesting part will be when she speaks after lunch.
Q: How well is Sotomayor getting around the room? (She broke her ankle and is wearing a cast.)
A: She's getting around the room well and people have been giving her hand. She hasn't needed crutches.
Q: What's the room like?
A: It's a little chilly. Very crowded ... the hearing room is so quiet and the speech-making is very monotonous. When the protesters shouted, it was startling.
Q: Where is Sen. Arlen Specter right now? (The Pennsylvania Democrat wasn't in the hearing room all morning.)
A: He's been on the committee a lot longer than the other members of the committee. He knows he won't speak until after lunch. His spokeswomen says he's back in the office.
Stay tuned, and send Kellman questions on Twitter at @AP_Courtside.
-Beth Davidz, AP reporter, Washington
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Interest is high among – get this – interest groups
Mon Jul 13, 2:08 pm ET
Judge Sotomayor hasn't spoken yet about her nomination to the Supreme Court, and interest groups are already weighing in on her.
The National Organization of Women (NOW) has done little publicly to press for Sotomayor's confirmation. But now the organization says they expect the Senate to "confirm Judge Sotomayor enthusiastically, judiciously, and swiftly."
They noted that the Supreme Court largely has been comprised of white men throughout history. In addition to Sotomayor being qualified, "it is also past time for the court to more closely reflect the population of this diverse country."
NOW's D.C. chapter is supposed to be holding a rally for Sotomayor later today. Larry Klayman, who founded Judicial Watch but is no longer affiliated with that group, also came out for Sotomayor -- kind of.
He said: "Judge Sotomayor may not be the absolute best jurist that could have been chosen among the talented Latin legal community, but she is good enough, smart enough and fair enough in her decision making to have President Obama's trust and appointment."
-Jesse J. Holland, AP writer, Supreme Court
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From the newspapers: Hearings are tedious, but important
Mon Jul 13, 1:55 pm ET
The Chicago Tribune editorializes that confirmation hearings are tedious, but offer an avenue to understanding how the court works.
The Dallas Morning News writes about the tone of Republicans’ opening statements.
The Washington Post writes about the social Web groups supporting and opposing Sotomayor.
The Washington Post writes about five senators to watch.
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Snack time for Sotomayor, Take Two
Mon Jul 13, 1:45 pm ET
Going on right now? The scent of pizza is wafting out of the hallways and into the hearing room. Boxes of Domino's are set upon portable tables in those hallways; officers are walking around with slices. One could be heard complaining that the pies are only cheese.
Oh, and it turns out that everyone is on his own for lunch, including Sotomayor.
-Laurie Kellman and Larry Margasak, AP reporters, Congress
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Insider tip: The walls have doors
Mon Jul 13, 1:42 pm ET
Wondering how police officers got the protesters out of the room so quickly? Turns out the wooden panels lining the sides of the chamber aren't all solid. The ones at the rear open into hallways. Officers popped these open and shoved the protesters out, without needing to hoist them over rows of people.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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A Catholic court, but how Catholic?
Mon Jul 13, 1:38 pm ET
If confirmed to the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor will be the sixth Roman Catholic of the nine justices. That would be a startling achievement for a faith that suffered so much discrimination in 20th century America.
But just how Catholic is she? Activists on all sides of the abortion issue -- including the two protesters removed from her hearing -- want to know.
Sotomayor hasn't spoken about her faith since her nomination. She graduated from a Catholic high school, but the White House says she doesn't belong to a parish and isn't a frequent churchgoer. She seems to be a ``cultural Catholic,'' someone in the faith who isn't active. More than half of U.S. Catholics fit that description and tend to be more liberal than regular churchgoers.
And the rest of the bench? Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are Jewish. Justice David Souter is Episcopalian. When Souter retires, Justice John Paul Stevens will be the lone Protestant.
Catholics are about one-quarter of the U.S. population and their ranks are expanding, largely due to the growing Latino community. American Protestants, meanwhile, are very close to losing their majority status.
-Rachel Zoll , AP religion writer
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Mon Jul 13, 1:32 pm ET
For the next few days, you'll hear variations of this phrase over and over: Judges are like baseball umpires, they apply the rules, they don't make them. Several senators have invoked the baseball analogy already -- and the Sotomayor hearing has just begun.
The analogy comes from the 2005 confirmation hearing of Chief Justice John Roberts, held up by conservatives as one of the best Supreme Court candidates in years. And of course, liberals have criticized both Roberts and his analogy.
What Chief Justice John Roberts actually said was this: "Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire."
He later added: "I will remember that it's my job to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat."
Liberals have said Roberts' idea of judging is incomplete at best.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., also used baseball to make his point in 2005. "We all know that with any umpire, the call may depend on your point of view. An instant replay from another angle can show a very different result," he said.
"Umpires follow the rules of the game. But in critical cases, it may depend on where they are standing when they make the call. The same holds true of judges."
-Jesse J. Holland, AP reporter, Supreme Court
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Mon Jul 13, 1:26 pm ET
Is empathy good on the Supreme Court? Republicans warn it means judicial activism. Democrats counter it will help Sotomayor become a great justice.
Have there ever been so many arguments over empathy? Just asking.
How do you feel? Send your responses to us on Twitter @AP_Courtside.
-Larry Margasak, AP reporter, Congress
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Mon Jul 13, 1:07 pm ET
After a long morning of senators speaking, the hearing room is virtually empty.
Everyone's off to lunch. For most, that means cafeterias -- which have plentiful offerings -- in the Hart, Dirksen or Russell office buildings. But behind that white marbled wall in the hearing room are several chambers for the nominee, senators and White House staff to dine.
We're trying to find out what's been ordered for the nominee. Also seen: a Capitol Police officer bringing in boxes of pizza. Not for the senators. For the cops.
-Laurie Kellman and Larry Margasak, AP reporters, Congress
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One of the junior senators is not like the others....
Mon Jul 13, 1:01 pm ET
Here's how you can tell that Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., senior only to Al Franken after switching parties, isn't like the other junior senators: He knew not to show up until after lunch. Unlike the other freshmen senators who have attended the hearings all day to the exclusion of their other Senate business, Specter has been in his office "getting things off his desk," said his spokeswoman.
He'll be there after lunch, she said. We'll report back.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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Mon Jul 13, 12:49 pm ET
The hearing hadn't even broken for lunch when there was a second interruption -- on the same topic.
"Abortion is Murder, Judge Soto mayor!"
This time, it came from a man in a red shirt and ponytail. He said something in Spanish before officers grabbed him and shoved him out of the room through doors that look like paneling when they're closed.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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Mon Jul 13, 12:46 pm ET
You're hearing his name a lot. So just who is Miguel Estrada?
He's a former federal court appointee of President George W. Bush. And he was the focal point of the judicial wars between Democrats and Republicans during the Bush administration.
From 1992 until 1997, Estrada was an assistant to the solicitor general. He also served as assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the appellate section for the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. And he was part of the team that successfully presented Bush's position to the Supreme Court in the 2000 election case Bush v. Gore.
But he became more well known after President George W. Bush nominated Estrada for a seat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. But Democrats, with support from liberal Latino groups, thwarted Estrada's nomination by filibustering his nomination.
In fact, Estrada had to withdraw his candidacy after the filibuster lasted two years. He now works for one of the larger law firms in Washington, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
-Jesse J. Holland, AP reporter, Supreme Court
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The nominee's record on abortion
Mon Jul 13, 12:39 pm ET
That man in the back of the hearing room who interrupted Sen. Dianne Feinstein's opening statement -- "What about the unborn! Abortion is murder!" -- might find Sotomayor's record on abortion interesting.
Or, rather, her lack of a record. She hasn't ruled in any cases that squarely confronted the right to abortion.
But as an appeals court judge she dismissed a challenge to the so-called global gag rule, deciding against an abortion rights group. In her opinion she used the phrases "anti-abortion" and "pro-choice," typically used by the abortion rights supporters.
As for that man? Security quickly ushered him out the door.
As for Sotomayor? She turned her head briefly toward her family and friends seated in the front row as the man was escorted out.
-Mark Sherman, AP reporter, Supreme Court; Larry Margasak, AP reporter, Congress
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Behind the scenes: A chair fit for a nominee
Mon Jul 13, 12:36 pm ET
That lawyerly, black leather chair Sotomayor is sitting in at the witness table? There's some debate behind the scenes over where it came from.
One knowledgeable official said it's the chair Sotomayor used in rehearsals. This official says the nominee had it moved to the committee room instead of rolling the dice by sitting for hours in a different chair.
But a spokeswoman for Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy says no, it's a Senate chair.
Even with what looks like a comfy chair, Sotomayor is uncomfortable.
An official who has spent all day with her says the nominee is taking aspirin for her broken ankle.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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Mon Jul 13, 12:34 pm ET
The Associated Press and MixedInk invite you to collaborate to make the arguments for and against Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation as Supreme Court Justice.
We've set up a site where you can weave your ideas and opinions on Sotomayor into one collective editorial for or against her confirmation. The final versions will be featured right here on the Courtside Blog.
Get started now on http://mixedink.com/AssociatedPress/Sotomayor.
-Lauren McCullough, AP social networks and special projects producer
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A remarkably candid assessment
Mon Jul 13, 12:29 pm ET
It was a rare moment of honesty -- and political reality -- at the Sotomayor confirmation hearing.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina conservative, said in his opening statement that the argument over Judge Sonia Sotomayor was "more about liberal and conservative politics than it is about anything else." The Republican followed that up with this quote: "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed."
Graham, of course, said he didn't think that would happen.
With Democrats controlling 60 votes in the Senate, Graham is only saying the obvious thing. But recognition of reality from the Senate? Wow! What a concept!
-Jesse J. Holland, AP reporter, Supreme Court
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Mon Jul 13, 12:23 pm ET
"Judge, you may have a broken ankle, but you beat me back," Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said after returning to the hearing room from a 10 minute break.
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FastChat: Ron Fournier today at 3 p.m.
Mon Jul 13, 12:15 pm ET
AP's Washington Bureau Chief Ron Fournier is hosting a FastChat on our @AP_Courtside Twitter account today at 3 p.m. EDT. For 30 minutes, Ron will be talking with you about the senators' opening statements at Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.
Earlier today, Ron translated what was said in the opening moments of the hearing, and what the players actually meant (read his post here). Care to take a stab? @reply your quote/translation to @AP_Courtside.
Have general questions before 3 p.m.? Send them to your reporter inside the hearing room, Laurie Kellman, on @AP_Courtside.
-Lauren McCullough, AP social networks and special projects producer
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Holding their own court outside the room
Mon Jul 13, 12:11 pm ET
What do senators do during a break? They hold mini news conferences in the hallway.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, in his debut as the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, was first. He spoke for five minutes. Then Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
If their comments sounded familiar, it's because they made the same points as they did inside the hearing room.
-Larry Margasak, AP reporter, Congress
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Mon Jul 13, 12:04 pm ET
Here's what's going on that you can't see on TV from our AP reporter in the hearing room:
-- Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is listening, reading, handing papers back and forth to aides behind him.
-- Two-dozen cameras are pointed at the proceedings from the boxes along the sides of the hearing room. There's about the same number of still photographers sitting in the well of the room between Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sotomayor.
-- Call the cast of faces in dark suits seated behind the senators the chorus. Each senator gets a few seats back there for their counsels and other staff. The Judiciary Committee itself gets some, too, and so does the White House.
-- The short-ish guy with gray curly hair and a folder under his arm, walking in and out to talk with Leahy is his top committee aide, Bruce Cohen. On my way in this morning, I passed him in the basement of the Russell Building and noted tongue-in-cheek, that he's not at all busy today. He shook his head, "Nah!"
Have questions about other happenings in the hearing room? Ask us on Twitter, @AP_Courtside.
-Laurie Kellman, AP reporter, Congress
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Republicans for Sotomayor (really)
Mon Jul 13, 12:00 pm ET
Republicans are supporting Judge Sonia Sotomayor -- at least in Puerto Rico.
The Republican Party of Puerto Rico has issued a resolution supporting the nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court and calling on the U.S. Senate to conduct a ''fair and thorough'' hearing based on her judicial qualifications and experience.
The League of United Latin American Citizens released the resolution Monday. The Hispanic advocacy group is holding its annual convention in San Juan this week and will be hosting a ''watch party'' so people can catch the confirmation hearing. They also have an "action room" so the judge’s supporters can quickly dash off a letter to senators.
To be sure, U.S. national political parties don't carry the same weight in Puerto Rico as they do on the mainland. Politics in the island largely revolve around the island's relationship to the U.S., with the Popular Party backing the semiautonomous commonwealth status and the New Progressive Party supporting statehood. There's also an independence party but they draw relatively few votes.
The Progressive Party tends to lean Republican and the pro-commonwealth Popular Party leans Democratic but neither is officially affiliated with either of the major U.S. parties.
-Ben Fox, AP news editor, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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