Sotomayor tells Senate panel she thinks judges must keep an ‘open mind’ about cases they judge

Sotomayor: ‘Open mind’ key to effective judging

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has told the Senate Judiciary Committee that she believes it’s important that judges keep “an open mind” about cases before them.

On Day 2 of her confirmation hearings, the native of South Bronx got to answer senators’ questions for the first time publicly about what style she would bring to the nation’s highest court.

Sotomayor said she believes it is important not to go into the case — or on the bench — with a prejudgment about the issues in play. She also said that when the time comes to make a decision, it should be “limited to what the law says on the facts before the judge.”