11 seconds ago 2010-01-02T14:45:03-08:00
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
