This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8154177.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sotomayor faces last Senate test Senate ends Sotomayor questioning
(about 5 hours later)
President Barack Obama's choice for US Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, is facing a final day of questioning at her confirmation hearing. President Barack Obama's choice for US Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, has finished testifying at her Senate confirmation hearing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is also calling witnesses to question them about her record as a judge. The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved on to questioning witnesses about her record as a judge.
Ms Sotomayor has so far avoided having the "meltdown" one of her critics said was needed to derail her confirmation. Ms Sotomayor has avoided having the "meltdown" one of her critics said was needed to derail her confirmation.
A full Senate vote is expected in early August. Ms Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.A full Senate vote is expected in early August. Ms Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
During the questioning this week, Ms Sotomayor vigorously defended her impartiality as a judge.During the questioning this week, Ms Sotomayor vigorously defended her impartiality as a judge.
On Wednesday, she was asked again to explain her comment that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life". She was asked repeatedly to explain her comment that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life".
And again Ms Sotomayor insisted that it was a rhetorical flourish gone awry. On Thursday, she apologised to any senators on the panel who had been insulted by the comment, which she made in a number of earlier speeches.
She has also been careful in responses to questions about any major issue that could come before her as a justice, such as abortion and gun law. "I regret that I have offended some of you," she said. "I believe my life demonstrates that that was not my intent."
Thursday's hearing sees a variety of witnesses called, including Frank Ricci, a white firefighter from New Haven, Connecticut. She has been careful in responses to questions about any major issue that could come before her as a justice, such as abortion and gun law.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says a precedent has emerged in recent decades whereby Supreme Court nominees are allowed to avoid engaging with any questioning at their confirmation hearings that touches on the hot-button issues in American politics.
Promotions row
At Thursday's hearing, a variety of witnesses are being called in addition to Ms Sotomayor, including Frank Ricci, a white firefighter from New Haven, Connecticut.
His case has figured prominently in discussion about Ms Sotomayor's suitability to serve as a Supreme Court justice.His case has figured prominently in discussion about Ms Sotomayor's suitability to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
Mr Ricci was among a group of firefighters who took a promotion exam, only to see the results dismissed by city authorities after no African-Americans and only two Hispanics did well enough to win promotion.Mr Ricci was among a group of firefighters who took a promotion exam, only to see the results dismissed by city authorities after no African-Americans and only two Hispanics did well enough to win promotion.
Ms Sotomayor and fellow appeals court judges ruled that Mr Ricci and his colleagues had not been unfairly denied promotions, a ruling subsequently overruled by the Supreme Court.Ms Sotomayor and fellow appeals court judges ruled that Mr Ricci and his colleagues had not been unfairly denied promotions, a ruling subsequently overruled by the Supreme Court.
After the hearings by the judiciary committee, a full vote in the Senate is expected in early August.After the hearings by the judiciary committee, a full vote in the Senate is expected in early August.
The Democrats have enough votes to block any Republican attempts to stop her confirmation.The Democrats have enough votes to block any Republican attempts to stop her confirmation.