By Matthew S. Schwartz
Legal Affairs Correspondent – Talk Radio News Service

The confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor may be a sure thing, but Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have requested a one-week delay in the committee vote.

Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he was “disappointed” by the delay, but “they have a right to put it over.” Republicans informed him over the weekend of their intent to delay the vote to next Tuesday. If the committee approves her, the vote will go to the full Senate floor.

Leahy stressed the importance of confirming Sotomayor quickly, as the Supreme Court reconvenes early next term to hear a case on the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. “I hope that once she is passed out of this committee, there will be no delay on the floor, because she will have a very, very few weeks after she is confirmed to move to Washington” and prepare for the case, he said. “Delay would not help either her or the Supreme Court.”

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.) said that even with the delay, “Confirmation, if it occurs, will occur sooner than even John Roberts.” Chief Justice Roberts began his Judiciary Committee hearings on Sept. 12, 2005, and was confirmed by the full Senate on Sept. 29.

Just 10 members of the 19-member Judiciary Committee showed up Tuesday, the minimum needed for committee business to take place.

Leahy told reporters he doesn’t know how long the floor debate will last, but it should be quick because senators should all know how they plan to vote by the time the official debate starts.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) says during day one of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor that he hopes the American people follow the hearings closely. He notes that he would like for the public to consider the question: If I were to go to court one day what kind of judge do I want ruling in that case? (0:39)

 

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Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) says, “In cases that she decided Judge Sotomayor, earlier this year, rendered an opinion that held that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right.” He says the question of whether or not it is a fundamental right is extremely significanct. (0:24)

 

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By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Republican Senators are objecting to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s interpretation of the Second Amendment.

“In her decision making process in cases that she decided, Judge Sotomayor, earlier this year, rendered an opinion that held that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right,” said Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), referencing a ruling Sotomayor issued as a 2nd Circuit judge for the city of New York last year. The Supreme Court nominee determined that the Second Amendment did not apply to city and states, but only the federal government.

Sen. Jim DeMint argued during a press conference with fellow Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) Wednesday that if the Second Amendment does not apply to every American, then the Constitution no longer has any bearing on controlling the role of the federal government.

“It’s a very important question that goes… beyond the question of bearing arms but whether or not we are still a Constitutional Republic.”

The Senators reiterated their belief that the right for the people to keep and bear arms applies to all Americans and stated that they plan to ask Sotomayor questions about her interpretation of the Second Amendment during her confirmation hearings in July.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) says, “In cases that she decided Judge Sotomayor, earlier this year, rendered an opinion that held that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right.” He says the fundamental right question is of real significance. (0:24)

 

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