Questioning is under way on Day 2 of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, and there has already been much talk of New Haven firefighters and wise Latina women. Asked about that infamous quote early on, Sotomayor replied, “I want to state upfront, unequivocally… I do not believe that any racial or ethnic group has an advantage in sound judging.” She also argued that she was just following precedent in Ricci v. Destafano.
Jeff Sessions wasn't buying it, asking if Sotomayor believed in "real law," and bringing up quotes suggesting she believed her past sympathies influenced her rulings. Sotomayor insisted she strove to remain impartial. Asked about abortion, Sotomayor didn't quibble, saying Roe v. Wade was "settled law," as reaffirmed by Planned Parenthood v. Casey. On the Second Amendment, she said her ruling upholding New York's nunchakus control law was a narrow one, applying to the martial arts weapon. (More Patrick Leahy stories.)