[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6575-S6576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        JUDGE SOTOMAYOR HEARINGS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, it was less than 3 weeks ago that the 
President announced his intentions to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to 
the Supreme Court. In announcing her nomination, the White House made 
much of the fact that the judge had the

[[Page S6576]]

lengthiest judicial record in recent memory. Last week, in a departure 
from past practice, the Democratic leadership of the Judiciary 
Committee unilaterally scheduled her hearing without even notifying the 
ranking member. Because of this unwise and unfair approach, Judge 
Sotomayor's hearing will begin just 3 weeks from today. As I understand 
it, her questionnaire is still incomplete. Among other deficiencies, 
she has not provided materials from 17 cases she handled as a 
prosecutor, nor has she provided materials from any appellate cases she 
handled, and she has not provided materials from over 100 speeches she 
has given.

  During the Roberts and Alito hearings, our Democratic friends 
repeatedly told us it was more important to do it right than to do it 
quick. Now that there is a Democratic President, it appears the 
attitude is to just do it. They want the shortest confirmation process 
in recent memory for a nominee with the longest judicial record in 
recent memory. There is clearly a double standard at play here--one 
that undermines our ability to fulfill one of the Senate's most 
important and solemn responsibilities.

                          ____________________