Lugar says he'll vote for Sotomayor
Posted: Friday, July 17, 2009 11:56 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Congress, Courts, Republicans
From NBC's Mark Murray and James Rankin
Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar appears to have become the first Republican to officially say he'll be voting for Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lugar doesn't sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, so his vote won't come until the nomination reaches the full Senate.
There are other Republicans who may end up voting for Sotomayor -- including Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe; Florida Sen. Mel Martinez; and perhaps South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. But they haven't officially said so yet.
Video: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Democratic Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, expresses his confidence that the majority of senators will vote for Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation and that she will be sitting with the Supreme Court when they reconvene in September.
"I have listened to the testimony of Judge Sonia Sotomayor before the Senate Judiciary Committee, carefully reviewed her public service record, and reviewed recommendations from Indiana constituents and colleagues here in the Senate," Lugar said in a statement.
"Judge Sotomayor is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and she has demonstrated a judicial temperament during her week-long nomination hearing. Judge Sotomayor has had a distinguished career of public service. She is well regarded in the legal community and by her peers. I will vote to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States."
