Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) asks about statements that “the law is always in a state of flux” and “indefiniteness,” no “capital-L law.”
Sotomayor: What legal cases are about people bring cases to court because they believe precedents don’t clearly answer the questions raised by the facts of their case. They’re saying, “the law says this, but I’m entitled to that.” If law was always clear, we wouldn’t have judges.
She said those remarks were an attempt to encourage judges to explain decisions to the public to make sense.
Cornyn asks about a Washington Post story that says President Obama did not ask about abortion. She confirms that Obama did not ask about any specific legal issue.
Cornyn: Do you know why the White House might tell abortion-rights groups that they don’t have to worry about you if a challenge to Roe v. Wade came to you?
Sotomayor; No sir, you just have to look at my record on all cases, I follow the law.
Corynyn asks about former employer saying that she is reliably liberal.
“I have no idea, since I know for a fact that I never spoke to him about my views on abortion, or on any social issue. I have no idea why he’s drawing that conclusion.”
Cornyn: Do you agree with his statement that you have generally liberal instincts?
Sotomayor: If he’s talking about my participation in a group, you could draw from it that I promote equal opporunity in America and efforts to guarantee that. He has not read my jurisprudence for the past 17 years, I can assure you.