Sotomayor: Roe v. Wade Is 'Settled Law'

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 14, 2009 12:11 PM CDT
Sotomayor: Roe v. Wade Is 'Settled Law'
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X