Judge Sotomayor's Opening Statement

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TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, 2009 AT 10:14 AM
Judge Sotomayor's Opening Statement

Posted by Cammie Croft

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. In her opening statement, Judge Sotomayor pledged a "fidelity to the law:"


In the past month, many Senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. It is simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make the law -- it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress's intent; and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand.

Check out the full video of Judge Sotomayor's opening statement here:



Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings continue today with the first round of questioning. For the last 17 years, Judge Sotomayor has approached judging from the real world. You'll see this down-to-earth style throughout the hearings -- with direct and precise answers. You can learn more about Judge Sotomayor throughout Whitehouse.gov:

Judge Sotomayor Slideshow 

Scroll through our candid photogallery of Judge Sotomayor that includes images from her early childhood in the South Bronx and more recent images with her family.

Weekly Address: The Experience of Judge Sotomayor
 
Watch the President discuss Sotomayor's personal and professional experience in the Weekly Address from May 29th, 2009.

Judge Sotomayor's Questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee 

Check out Judge Sotomayor's responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee's questions in a guest blog post by White House Counsel, Greg Craig.

VIDEO: Watch the President's Nomination of Judge Sotomayor 

Take a look back at the President's press conference announcing Judge Sotomayor as his nominee to the Supreme Court.