Sotomayor's Nomination Hearing: A Breakdown of Key Takeaways and Statistics
In the ongoing nomination hearing of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, Senator Patrick Leahy, the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed his support for her qualifications, describing her as a fair and impartial judge. Senator Arlen Specter commended President Obama for nominating an Hispanic woman and emphasized the importance of diversity on the court. The hearing also highlighted the decreasing number of cases decided by the Supreme Court, with 67 signed opinions in 2007 compared to 451 decided cases in 1886.
Key Takeaways:
- Senator Leahy praised Judge Sotomayor's record for being fair and impartial, indicating that she calls cases down the middle without any bias or agenda.
- Senator Specter commended President Obama for nominating an Hispanic woman, highlighting the importance of diversity on the court.
- The Supreme Court has declined to decide a significant number of cases, with Senator Specter suggesting that the court has time for more cases.
- In 2007, the Supreme Court had only 67 signed opinions, a significant decrease from 451 decided cases in 1886.
Statistics:
- 67 signed opinions by the Supreme Court in 2007.
- 451 decided cases by the Supreme Court in 1886.
- 1,396 cases on the docket of the Supreme Court in 1886.
Sources:
- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA).
- President Barack Obama.
- Federal News Service, Inc. - "Afternoon Session of a Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee" (July 13, 2009).