July 24, 2009 3:43 PM
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Hatch, Cornyn to Vote "No" on Sotomayor
5161860Following Republican leadership, two more GOP senators announced today that they will vote against Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Friday they will oppose her confirmation.
Cornyn, whose constituency is one-third Hispanic, said he was announcing his decision with "regret and some sadness," while acknowledging the political risk involved, according to the Associated Press.
"Voting to confirm Judge Sotomayor -- despite my doubts -- would certainly be the politically expedient thing to do. But it would not be the right thing to do," Cornyn said in a statement.
He added that many of her public statements "reflected a surprisingly radical view of the law."
Hatch said he will vote against Sotomayor because he disagrees with her judicial philosophy, even though he voted to confirm her appointment to a federal appeals court in 1998.
"Although Judge Sotomayor has a compelling life story and dedication to public service, her statements and record were too much at odds with the principles about the judiciary in which I deeply believe," he said in a statement.
The two Republicans join Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a handful of other Republicans who will vote against Sotomayor. A few Republicans in the Senate, however, have said they will vote to confirm the judge as the first Latina to sit on the high court, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Republicans requested that Sotomayor's confirmation vote be put off a week. However, they agreed they will not filibuster her nomination, essentially guaranteeing she will be confirmed.
Cornyn, whose constituency is one-third Hispanic, said he was announcing his decision with "regret and some sadness," while acknowledging the political risk involved, according to the Associated Press.
"Voting to confirm Judge Sotomayor -- despite my doubts -- would certainly be the politically expedient thing to do. But it would not be the right thing to do," Cornyn said in a statement.
He added that many of her public statements "reflected a surprisingly radical view of the law."
Hatch said he will vote against Sotomayor because he disagrees with her judicial philosophy, even though he voted to confirm her appointment to a federal appeals court in 1998.
"Although Judge Sotomayor has a compelling life story and dedication to public service, her statements and record were too much at odds with the principles about the judiciary in which I deeply believe," he said in a statement.
The two Republicans join Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a handful of other Republicans who will vote against Sotomayor. A few Republicans in the Senate, however, have said they will vote to confirm the judge as the first Latina to sit on the high court, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Republicans requested that Sotomayor's confirmation vote be put off a week. However, they agreed they will not filibuster her nomination, essentially guaranteeing she will be confirmed.
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Stephanie Condon Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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