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 1 Version 2
Senate ends Sotomayor questioning Senate ends Sotomayor questioning
(about 3 hours later)
President Barack Obama's choice for US Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, has finished testifying at her Senate confirmation hearing. US President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, has finished her last day of testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved on to questioning witnesses about her record as a judge. The committee's confirmation hearings take place ahead of a full senate vote to approve Ms Sotomayor's nomination, which is expected in early August.
Ms Sotomayor has avoided having the "meltdown" one of her critics said was needed to derail her confirmation. Other witnesses, including Frank Ricci, whose discrimination case Ms Sotomayor struck down, have also been questioned.
A full Senate vote is expected in early August. Ms Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Ms Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
Apology
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.
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".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".
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.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.
"I regret that I have offended some of you," she said. "I believe my life demonstrates that that was not my intent.""I regret that I have offended some of you," she said. "I believe my life demonstrates that that was not my intent."
The senators, however hard they tried, were not able to lay a glove on her The BBC's Kevin Connolly Why judge drama failed to ignite
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.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.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 were called in addition to Ms Sotomayor, including Frank Ricci, a white fire-fighter from New Haven, Connecticut.
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 fire-fighters 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. The ruling "divides people who don't wish to be divided along racial lines", Mr Ricci said in his testimony before the Judiciary Committee.
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 Ms Sotomayor's confirmation.