Leading Senate Republican says Sotomayor must explain ‘wise Latina’ remark during hearingsWASHINGTON — A top Senate Republican says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will have to explain statements suggesting that judges can’t be neutral, but he also acknowledges that her confirmation as the high court’s first Hispanic justice won’t be blocked. For Sonia Sotomayor, preparing for confirmation hearings is an endurance test in itselfWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has endured weeks of insults, obnoxious questions and unwelcome drilling into her work as a judge and a lawyer — and it was all on purpose, essentially a dress rehearsal for her confirmation hearings. NRA raises ‘very serious concerns’ on Sotomayor but stops short of opposing herWASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association says it has very serious concerns about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor based on her rulings on weapons rights. Prepping to be the Senate’s newest member, Al Franken leaves the joking to othersWASHINGTON — So, did you hear the one about the comedian who spent a whole day on Capitol Hill and told no jokes? Top Republican: Senators to ask Sotomayor whether she would inject racial bias into decisionsWASHINGTON — A top Republican senator said Monday that he wants to find out whether Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor would let racial bias affect her decisions as a justice. Analysis: Republicans, outnumbered and politically wary, lack cohesive opposition to SotomayorWASHINGTON — A week before her Senate hearings, Republicans are floundering in their efforts to trip up Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, unable to find an effective message about why she’s not fit to serve. Obama sets out to reshape US relations in Russia, meet Pope Benedict XVI, make mark in AfricaWASHINGTON — Determined to change the way the world views the United States, Barack Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to global leaders that America is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa, his father’s birthplace. Civil rights group Sotomayor advised sued in case similar to firefighters’ job test disputeWASHINGTON — A civil rights group on whose board Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor served filed racial bias lawsuits over employment examinations that resemble a Connecticut case in which she ruled against white firefighters, documents released by the Senate show. Court victory hands Franken a Senate seat, Democrats a boost on health care, other key issuesWASHINGTON — The jokes about Minnesota’s prolonged recount can finally stop, just in time for Democrats to secure a reliable vote from a former funny man. Puerto Rican group campaigned against Bork, fought discrimination while Sotomayor servedWASHINGTON — A Puerto Rican civil rights organization advised by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor campaigned against seating conservative Robert Bork on the high court in the late 1980s, according to new documents that shed light on the group that’s become a key focus of Republicans questioning Sotomayor’s fitness to be a justice. Al Franken’s win in Minnesota Senate race gives Democrats filibuster-proof majorityST. PAUL, Minn. — Al Franken refused his rival’s calls for an election night concession last November, choosing instead to begin vote counting and courtroom haggling that stretched almost eight months and ultimately landed him a seat in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Al Franken wins Minn. Senate race, gives Democrats fillibuster-proof majorityST. PAUL, Minn. — Al Franken ascended Tuesday from the ranks of former “Saturday Night Live” comedians to an even more exclusive club, outlasting Republican Norm Coleman in an eight-month recount and courtroom saga to win a seat in the U.S. Senate. New York City bar: Sotomayor ‘highly qualified’ for Supreme Court, gives her highest ratingWASHINGTON — New York City’s bar association says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is “highly qualified” to be a justice. White firefighters prevail in Supreme Court reverse discrimination ruling on race, promotionsWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court declared Monday that white firefighters in Connecticut were unfairly denied promotion because of their race, ruling against minorities in a major reverse discrimination case that could affect bosses and workers nationwide. The justices threw out a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor had endorsed as an appeals court judge. White House says high court’s firefighters ruling shows Sotomayor follows judicial precedentWASHINGTON — Spinning a Supreme Court decision in its favor, the White House said Monday that the justices’ reversal of a ruling that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge proves that she follows judicial precedent. White firefighters prevail in Supreme Court ruling on race and promotionsWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge. Supreme Court steps into international child custody disputeWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear arguments in a child custody dispute between a Texas mother and a British father that tests the boundaries of an international treaty. Supreme Court rules for white firefighters in dispute over promotionsWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge. Pa. appeals court strikes down Philadelphia bans on assault weapons, buying guns for othersPHILADELPHIA — A state appeals court ruled Wednesday that the city cannot enforce an assault weapons ban and a law prohibiting guns bought by one person and given to another, measures passed by City Council in an effort to combat persistent gun violence. Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor follows long tradition of saying little on key issues, casesWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and senators who will vote on her confirmation are engaged in a careful conversation about where she stands on hot-button issues like abortion and gun rights. You probably won’t hear any of it, though, since the exchange is taking place in code. Democrats’ quick push of financial regulation overhaul worries some lawmakersWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s plan to transform the Federal Reserve into a super-regulator ran into skepticism Thursday from lawmakers who worry that the central bank is not the best suited to keep an eye on firms deemed so big and influential that their demise could hurt the economy. AP answers your questions on the news, from movie captions to a closely watched court nomineeSonia Sotomayor has been getting so much attention lately, she even made headlines when she broke her ankle at the airport. 8 national law enforcement groups endorse Supreme Court nominee SotomayorWASHINGTON — Eight national law enforcement organizations are endorsing President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor breaks ankle at New York City airport en route to Washington for Senate meetingsWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor hobbled through a packed day of meetings on Capitol Hill Monday after breaking her ankle in an early morning airport stumble, then boarding a flight from New York to Washington to visit senators who will vote on her confirmation. Summary of actions by the Supreme Court on MondayThe Supreme Court on Monday: Top Republican senator says Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination should hinge on impartialityWASHINGTON — The Alabama senator leading the GOP’s vetting of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor said the American tradition of impartial courts is “under attack” and the pivotal question in her nomination should be whether she allows personal views to color her decisions as a judge. For top Republican senator, Sotomayor’s impartiality on bench is key to Supreme Court bidWASHINGTON — The senator leading the GOP’s review of Sonia Sotomayor said the central question in her Supreme Court nomination should be whether she allows personal views to color her decisions. AP News in BriefObama says he’ll accept Nobel Peace Prize as ‘call to action’ toward peace and prosperity First lady tells high school graduates any doubts about college are not unusual.WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama used some high-profile examples — including Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor — to reassure high school graduates any doubts they have about how they will do in college and beyond are not unusual. Advice from the First lady to high school graduates: Don’t worry.WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama is offering this advice to students doubting if they’re ready for the future: “Don’t worry.” |