Sotomayor Confirmation Hearing, Day 3, Part 1

Jul 15, 2009

Senate Committee Judiciary

The Senate Judiciary Committee held its third day of hearings on the appointment of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the retirement of Justice David Souter. Committee members continued their initial round of questioning with each member allotted 30 minutes to question the nominee. In part 1 of 5, members focused .. Read More
The Senate Judiciary Committee held its third day of hearings on the appointment of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the retirement of Justice David Souter. Committee members continued their initial round of questioning with each member allotted 30 minutes to question the nominee. In part 1 of 5, members focused on several issues including Judge Sotomayor's judicial temperament, her views of diversity and civil rights issues, the role of the judiciary in interpreting law, Second Amendment rulings of the Supreme Court, and her statements in speeches to various groups outside the courtroom. Both Senators Cornyn and Coburn pressed her on her views on abortion. Senator Whitehouse engaged her in discussions of judicial interpretation and the role of the jury, as well as cases involving search and seizure, particularly in instances where new technology enhances law enforcement capabilities.

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TIME SPEAKER TEXT
00:11:48 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Good morning, everyone.

Judge, it's good to see you back, and your family.

Judge Sotomayor,...

00:13:25 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Judge.

00:13:27 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Good morning, Senator. It's good to see you

again.

00:13:29 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Good to see you. I recall when we met in my

office, you told me how much you enjoy the back...

00:16:34 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Yes, generally. But the point I was making was

that Justice O'Connor's words, the ones that...

00:18:07 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

But Judge --

00:18:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It had a different meaning in the context of

the entire speech.

00:18:11 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

But Judge, she said a wise man and a wise woman

would reach the same conclusion. You said that...

00:18:36 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It is clear from the attention that my words

have gotten and the manner in which it has been...

00:20:14 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

So you'd -- do you stand by your words of yesterday

in -- when you said it was a failed rhetorical...

00:20:26 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I stand by the words; it fell flat. And it --

and I understand that some people have understood...

00:20:45 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Well, you spoke about the law students to whom

these comments were frequently directed and your...

00:21:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I would regret that, because, for me, the work

I do with students -- and it's just not in the...

00:22:19 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Let me ask about another speech you gave in 1996

that was published in the Suffolk University...

00:22:59 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

The title of that speech was "Returning Majesty

to the Law." As I hope I communicated in my...

00:23:33 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

What kind of -- excuse me. I'm sorry. I didn't

mean to interrupt you.

00:23:37 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

And I was encouraging them not to fall into the

trap of calling decisions that the public disagrees...

00:26:24 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Judge, if you let me -- I think we're straying away

from the question I had talking about oversight...

00:26:47 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

They change -- we can't change law. We're not

lawmakers. But we change our view of how to interpret...

00:27:30 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

In another speech in 1996, you celebrated the

uncertainty of the law. You wrote that the law...

00:28:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It's not that it's important to the law as much

as it is that it's what legal cases are about....

00:30:02 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

In a 2001 speech at Berkeley, you wrote, quote,

"Whether born from experience or inherent physiological...

00:30:36 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I was talking just about that. There are in

the law -- there have been upheld in certain situations...

00:31:06 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

We're talking about judging, though, aren't --

00:31:06 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

You need to be a pilot who has good eyesight.

00:31:09 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

We're not talking about pilots. We're talking

about judging, right?

00:31:11 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

No, no, no, no. But what I'm -- was talking

about there, because the context of that was talking...

00:32:19 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

So you stand by the comment that -- or the

statement that inherent physiological differences...

00:32:27 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I'm not sure of that -- I'm not sure exactly

where that would play out, but I was asking a hypothetical...

00:33:18 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

As you can tell, I'm struggling a little bit to

understand how your statement about physiological...

00:34:18 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Yes. It is absolutely correct. I was asked no

question by anyone, including the president, about...

00:34:28 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Do you know, then, on what basis, if that's the

case -- and I accept your statement -- on what...

00:34:45 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

No, sir, because you just have to look at my

record to know that in the cases that I addressed...

00:34:58 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

On what basis would George Pavia, who was

apparently senior partner in the law firm that hired...

00:35:27 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I have no idea, since I know for a fact I never

spoke to him about my views on abortion -- frankly,...

00:36:19 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Right. Do you agree with --

00:36:19 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- abortion-related activities.

00:36:24 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Do you agree with his statement that you have

generally liberal instincts?

00:36:29 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

If he was talking about the fact that I served

on a particular board that promoted equal opportunity...

00:37:05 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

(Laughs.)

00:37:06 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

(Laughs.)

00:37:09 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Well, I hope, as you suggested, not only liberals

endorse the idea of equal opportunity in this...

00:39:13 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Senator, I can't speak to what brought this

case to Judge Cabranes's attention. I can say the...

00:41:55 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

But Judge, even the district court admitted that a

jury could rationally infer that city officials...

00:43:30 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

As you know, the court's opinion, issued after

discussions en banc, recognized, as I do, the...

00:44:56 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

My time's up. Thank you.

00:44:57 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I would note in the record -- will put in the record a letter...

00:45:34 Sessions, JeffU.S. Senator

Mr. Chairman?

00:45:35 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Yes.

00:45:35 Sessions, JeffU.S. Senator

I would offer a letter for the record from the

National Rifle Association in which they express...

00:46:15 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

To -- and without objection, those will be made part

of the record. And we'll -- do you have...

00:46:21 Sessions, JeffU.S. Senator

Nothing else.

00:46:22 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Then I'll yield to Senator Cardin.

00:46:25 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And Judge Sotomayor, good morning. Welcome back to our

committee....

00:46:54 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

(Laughs.)

00:46:55 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

So we just want to invite you, as a baseball fan,

we want to invite you to an Orioles game,...

00:47:06 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That's a great invitation, and good morning,

Senator.

You can assure your Baltimore fans...

00:47:15 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Well, we think it's the best. Of course, it was

the beginning of the new trends of baseball...

00:49:14 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I -- thank those who have commented in the way

they did. I think that most lawyers who participate...

00:50:30 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Well, I thank you for that response. I agree with

you that the Constitution, the Bill of Rights,...

00:53:45 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

When we speak about my passion, I don't think

that the issue of guaranteeing each citizen the...

00:57:15 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Let me use your quote there because I thought it

was particularly appropriate. You said, "I...

01:00:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Believe my case -- my cases, my entire record

shows that I look at the acts of Congress, as...

01:01:05 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Thank you for that response.

Let me turn, if I might, to our personal backgrounds. There's

been...

01:03:30 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Your comment about your daughter and

granddaughter makes me remember a letter I received when...

01:04:34 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

(Chuckles.)

01:04:35 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It almost comes around to your earlier

question, which is, that issue is one that starts with...

01:07:30 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Well -- and you need to look at all the facts in

reaching those decisions, which you have stressed...

01:08:55 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Well, it depends on the context of that case

that you're looking at. In the Gant case, for example,...

01:10:12 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Well -- and I agree. I think you need to take a

look at all the facts and the circumstances....

01:11:34 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

The right to privacy has been recognized, as

you know, in a wide variety of circumstances. For...

01:13:10 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Thank -- in the time that I have remaining, I would

like to talk about pro bono. I enjoyed our...

01:14:47 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I know that there's been a lot of attention

paid to one speech and its variants that I've given....

01:16:54 Cardin, Benjamin L.U.S. Senator

Well, very, very well said. I look forward to

working between Congress and the courts in advancing...

01:17:00 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much, Senator Cardin.

And Senator Coburn.

01:17:04 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to

ask unanimous consent to put in an article from the newspaper...

01:17:10 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Without objection, it will be placed in the record.

01:17:13 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Welcome, again. And -- but first of all, let me

apologize to you because I was not able to hear...

01:18:45 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can speak to what the court has said in its

precedent. In Planned Parenthood versus Casey,...

01:19:28 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

So let me give you a couple of cases. Let's say

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and we discover a small...

01:19:52 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can't answer that question in the abstract,

because I would have to look at what the state...

01:20:45 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay. Well, does technology -- in terms of the

advancement of technology, should it have any...

01:21:20 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

The law has answered a different question.

It's talked about the constitutional right of women...

01:21:27 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I understand --

01:21:27 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- in certain circumstances. And, as I

indicated, the issue becomes one of what's the state...

01:21:37 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I understand. But all I'm asking is, should it

have any bearing?

01:21:42 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can't answer that in the abstract, because

the question as it would come before me wouldn't...

01:22:16 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

But viability is a portion of a lot of that. And a

lot of the decision -- have been made basis...

01:22:37 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

All I can say to you is what the court's done.

01:22:40 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Right.

01:22:40 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

And the standard that the court has applied,

what factors it may or may not look at within a...

01:22:55 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

All I'm asking is whether it should.

01:22:57 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That --

01:22:57 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Should viability, should technology, at any time,

be considered as we discuss these very delicate...

01:23:11 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can't because that's not a question that the

court reaches out to answer.

01:23:16 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Well --

01:23:17 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That's a question that gets created by a state

regulation of some sort or an action by the state...

01:23:47 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I'm reminded of one of your quotes that says you do

make policy. And I won't continue that.

I...

01:24:23 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It depends on what they're applying that

definition to. And so there are situations in which...

01:24:49 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

But you would not deny the fact that states do have

the right to set up statutes that define,...

01:24:59 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

As I said, it depends on in what context

they're attempting to do that.

01:25:05 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

They're doing it so they limit the liability of

others with regard to that decision, which would...

01:26:56 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

No, sir.

01:26:57 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay. Please educate me, if you would.

01:27:00 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

In the Supreme Court's decision in Heller, it

recognized an individual right to bear arms as...

01:28:38 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Through the 14th Amendment?

01:28:39 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Through -- and others, but the -- generally. I

shouldn't say "and others"; through the 14th.

The...

01:29:26 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay.

01:29:26 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Was that right incorporated against the states?

And we determined that, given Supreme Court...

01:29:47 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Did the Supreme Court say in Heller that it

definitely was not, or did they just fail to rule...

01:29:52 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Well, they failed to rule on it, you're right,

but I --

01:29:53 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay. There's a very big difference there.

01:29:56 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I agree.

01:29:56 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay. Let me continue with that. So I sit in

Oklahoma in my home, and what we have today as...

01:30:15 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

It's not how "I" see the law.

01:30:17 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Well, as you see the interpretation of the law

today. In your opinion of what the law is today,...

01:30:24 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

No, it's not my interpretation; I was applying

both Supreme Court precedent deciding that question...

01:31:06 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

So, what does the law say today about the

statement? Where do we stand today about my statement...

01:31:28 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can't answer of incorporation other than to

refer to precedent. Precedent says --

01:31:37 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I understand.

01:31:37 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- as the 2nd Circuit interpreted the Supreme

Court's precedent --

01:31:40 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I understand that.

01:31:41 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- that it's not a -- it's not incorporated.

It's also important to understand that the individual...

01:31:57 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Context, yes.

01:31:58 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

And by that I mean what the court will look at

is a state regulation of your right and then...

01:32:19 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

It's very interesting to me -- I went back and read

the history of the debate on the 14th amendment....

01:34:05 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

One of the frustrations with judges and their

decisions by citizens is that -- and this was...

01:35:35 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Right.

01:35:37 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

As you know, there are many states that

prohibit felons from possessing guns. So does the federal...

01:36:31 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Let -- thank you. Let me follow with one other

question. As a citizen of this country, do you...

01:36:54 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I'm trying to think if I remember a case where

the Supreme Court has addressed that particular...

01:37:47 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

But do you have an opinion, or can you give me your

opinion, of whether or not in this country...

01:37:57 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I -- as I said, I don't --

01:37:59 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I'm talking about your --

01:38:00 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- know. I don't know if that legal question

has been ever presented.

01:38:04 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I wasn't asking about the legal question. I'm

asking about your personal opinion.

01:38:08 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

But that is sort of an abstract question --

01:38:15 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Well, it --

01:38:16 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- with no -- no particular meaning to me

outside --

01:38:20 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Well, I think that's what American people want to

hear, Your Honor, is, they want to know, do...

01:38:27 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Could I --

01:38:27 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

-- does the Second Amendment mean something under

the 14th Amendment? Does what the Constitution...

01:39:09 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I know it's difficult to deal with someone as

-- like a judge, who's so sort of -- whose thinking...

01:39:19 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I know, it's hard.

01:39:20 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

But could I -- could I --

01:39:21 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Kind of like a doctor. I can't quit using doctor

terms. I know that.

01:39:23 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Exactly. That's exactly right. But let me --

let me try to address what you're saying in the...

01:40:37 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

You'll have lots of explaining to do. (Laughter.)

01:40:38 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

(Laughs.) I'd be in a lot of trouble then.

But I couldn't do that under a definition of self-defense.

01:40:46 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Okay. Let --

01:40:47 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

And so that's what I was trying to explain in

terms of why, in looking at this as a judge, I'm...

01:41:05 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Yes, you know --

01:41:06 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Or not the --

01:41:07 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

-- the problem is -- is -- is we think -- we

doctors think like doctors. Hard to get out of...

01:41:56 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I have actually agreed with Justice(s) Scalia

and Thomas on the point that one has to be very...

01:42:18 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

But I accepted that. I said outside of those.

01:42:21 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Well --

01:42:21 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

In other areas where you will sit in judgment, can

you cite for me the authority, either given...

01:42:40 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

My speech and my record on this issue --

because I've never used it to interpret the Constitution...

01:42:59 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

So there -- you stand by the -- there is no

authority for a Supreme Court justice to utilize...

01:43:11 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Unless the statute requires you or directs you

to look at foreign law -- and some do, by the...

01:43:39 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

Well, let me give you one of your quotes: "... to

suggest to anyone that you can outlaw the...

01:44:32 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

There is none. If you look at my speech,

you'll see that repeatedly I pointed out both that...

01:46:08 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

I'm not sure I agree with that on certain Eighth

Amendment and 14th Amendment cases.

Let...

01:47:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

We don't render decisions to -- we don't render

decisions to please the home crowd, or any other...

01:47:54 Coburn, Tom A. M.D.U.S. Senator

All right. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

01:47:57 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Coburn.

Senator Whitehouse.

01:48:04 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And welcome again, Your Honor. I have to say before I get into

the...

01:49:12 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

(Laughs.)

01:49:13 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And so I promised them that I would, so I'm

keeping that promise right now.

But I want...

01:50:33 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I can. That's the pledge I would take if I was

-- that I took as district court judge, as a...

01:50:49 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Thank you.

Some of my colleagues have raised questions about your role at

the Puerto Rican...

01:51:35 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That's correct.

01:51:36 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And in terms of the way that the Puerto Rican

Legal Defense and Education Fund operated, you...

01:51:49 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I was.

01:51:50 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Did the attorneys for the Puerto Rican Legal

Defense and Education Fund make it a practice to...

01:52:09 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

No, because most of us on the board didn't have

civil rights experience. I had actually -- when...

01:52:31 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And I think that's customary in charitable

organizations -- for the board not to sign off specifically...

01:53:04 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I don't believe any question was asked about my

service on the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and...

01:53:33 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Let me turn to some more general questions, if

I may, and one has to do with the role of the...

01:55:36 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Like you, I am -- and perhaps because I was a

state prosecutor and I have been a trial judge,...

01:58:26 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And does -- do -- does the Founders' concern

about the potential vulnerabilities or liabilities...

01:58:42 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Senator, I -- as I see the jury system, I don't

know exactly -- I don't actually -- and I've...

02:00:01 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And, where the jury requirement applies to

civil trials, the argument would be the same, correct?

02:00:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Yes.

02:00:10 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Again on the question of the American system of

government, how would you characterize the Founders'...

02:00:41 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

The Constitution, by its terms, sets forth the

powers and limits of each branch of government....

02:01:24 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Would you feel, in light of all of the

attention -- very, very careful and thoroughly thought-out...

02:02:15 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

The best framework that has been set out on

this question of a unilateral act by one branch...

02:02:33 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Yes.

02:02:34 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

-- takes the action, typically.

The best description of how to approach those questions was...

02:04:52 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Let me change to a more law-enforcement-

oriented topic. I appreciate, first of all, very much...

02:09:31 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

I think, as I understand your question,

Senator, that there are two issues -- if not more, but...

02:10:04 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Yes, which is a constant.

02:10:06 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That --

02:10:07 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

That stayed the same.

02:10:07 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

That's generally the structure. In -- not so

long ago, the Supreme Court dealt with a technologically...

02:10:47 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

The FLIR case.

02:10:48 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Exactly.

And in that case, the reason for that case is that apparently --

I'm not an expert...

02:15:38 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

Your Honor, I thank you. I wish you well.

02:15:41 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Thank you.

02:15:42 Whitehouse, SheldonU.S. Senator

And I congratulate you on your appearance

before this committee so far.

02:15:48 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

Thank you.

02:15:49 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

Senator Whitehouse, thank you. I appreciate the

comments getting into the area of criminal law....

02:16:18 Sotomayor, SoniaJudge

(Laughs.)

02:16:20 Leahy, Patrick J.U.S. Senator

We will take a 15-minute break. (Sounds gavel.)

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  • Sotomayor, Sonia
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