The opening dance in the Judge Sotomayor confirmation hearing was held yesterday, with Republicans critiquing her fairness and impartiality, and the Democrats offering warm words of praise. The prospective Justice offered an opening statement. From the Washington Post:

“The task of a judge is not to make law. It is to apply the law,” Sotomayor said. “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 by my circuit court.”

Sotomayor said that in 17 years as a district judge and then on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York, she has sought to “strengthen both the rule of law and faith in the impartiality of our justice system.”

Senator Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican, offered some criticism.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the committee’s ranking Republican, praised Sotomayor’s statement as “from the heart and direct,” but earlier he had made clear that Republicans will challenge her speeches about how life experiences can form a judge’s view of the law, and Obama’s statement that understanding the real-life consequences of a decision is a necessary tool for a judge.

“I will not vote for, and no senator should vote for, anyone who will not render justice impartially,” Sessions said. “Call it empathy, call it prejudice or call it sympathy, but whatever it is, it’s not law,” he said. “In truth, it’s more akin to politics, and politics has no place in the courtroom.”

And Republican Lindsay Graham said the obvious, when he predicted an easy confirmation for Judge Sotomayor absent a “meltdown”.

One of my favorite political blogs is Chris Cillizza’s “The Fix” over at the Washington Post. Cillizza picked some first day winners and losers, and one of the Cillizza losers was New York’s Kirsten Gillibrand, who was cut off mid-sentence by Chairman Pat Leahy as she was making her home state introduction of Sotomayor. I have included that great clip below! Were there winners and losers here, or was it just political theatre?

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1155201977