Sotomayor hearings: Day 2 promises fireworks as senators begin questioning President Obama's first Supreme Court nominee

The second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court will begin in about half an hour. Expect some tough questioning from the committee’s Republicans, who made it clear Monday that they have concerns about how Sotomayor applies the law.

“I will not vote for — no senator should vote for — an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices, or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court,” Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said.

Not surprisingly, committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont took an opposite view. “I would trust that all members of this committee here today will reject the efforts of partisans and outside pressure groups that have sought to create a caricature of Judge Sotomayor while belittling her record, her achievements and her intelligence. Let no one demean this extraordinary woman,” he said.

If Monday’s opening session felt a bit, well, canned, there was good reason. No one asked questions, and it was not a day for improvisation. One by one, the 19 senators read their prepared opening statements, followed eventually by Sotomayor. 

Today, however, promises to be different. Senators will begin questioning the New York judge, and The Ticket will bring you continual news updates, along with commentary and analysis. So stay tuned. The proceedings begin shortly.

We'll be live-blogging right here again throughout her testimony.

-- Steve Padilla

As Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor looks on, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. greets her family on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, prior to the start of her confirmation hearing before the committee. Seated, from left are, her stepfather Omar Lopez, her mother Celina Sotomayor and her brother Juan Sotomayor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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