Republican Sen. Graham tells Sotomayor he’s feeling better about her going to high court

Graham talking more positively about Sotomayor

WASHINGTON — A Republican critic of Sonia Sotomayor says he’s feeling more comfortable about her going to the Supreme Court, saying he hopes she won’t let personal opinions drive her rulings.

In an exchange with Sotomayor, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sought to learn what kind of judicial demeanor she would have. He pressed her on gun rights specifically, but said he felt she’d been less an activist in her rulings than in her speeches.

Graham told the judge he thinks she’s done well — even though “you have said some things that just bug the hell out of me.” Turning to gun rights, he told Sotomayor he thought she was open-minded and would be able to “embrace a right you may not want for yourself.”