NRA raises ‘very serious concerns’ on Sotomayor but stops short of opposing her

WASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association says it has very serious concerns about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor based on her rulings on weapons rights.

New York City bar: Sotomayor ‘highly qualified’ for Supreme Court, gives her highest rating

WASHINGTON — New York City’s bar association says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is “highly qualified” to be a justice.

Republican says Sotomayor must tell Americans whether she’ll be a justice for all or just some

WASHINGTON — A GOP senator said Thursday he will use hearings on Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court to ask whether she intends to be a justice “for all of us, or just for some of us.”

Sotomayor responds to GOP questions as Republican plans criticism of Obama’s judicial views

WASHINGTON — Defending her membership in an elite all-women’s club, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor told senators that the group doesn’t discriminate unfairly by gender and includes men in many of its activities.

Senate confirmation hearings for appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to begin July 13

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats, determined to seat Sonia Sotomayor on the Supreme Court quickly, announced mid-July hearings on her nomination Tuesday in a move that surprised and angry Republicans said clouded the prospects for the nomination and other legislative business.

Sotomayor often spoke about influence of her gender and Latina heritage on her judicial work

WASHINGTON — Sonia Sotomayor told the Senate on Thursday that the White House never questioned her about cases or issues she might have to decide as a Supreme Court justice, a disclosure gleaned from reams of documents that reveal she has spoken repeatedly about how her gender and Latina heritage affect her judging.

Sotomayor divulges details on record, writings, selection as Senate scrutinizes court nominee

WASHINGTON — The White House contacted Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor about serving on the high court four days before Justice David Souter announced that he would retire, the judge revealed Thursday, as she sent a Senate panel a massive portfolio of personal details and writings that will shape the debate on her confirmation.

White House: Sotomayor’s swift survey response builds case for timely confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON — The White House says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s quick response to an extensive Senate survey should lead to swift confirmation hearings.

Sotomayor’s personal assets top $1M, far less than others Obama considered for court

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says her personal assets top $1 million.

White House contacted Sotomayor about high-court seat before Souter announced he would retire

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says the White House contacted her about serving on the high court four days before Justice David Souter announced that he would retire.

White House gives Senate panel documents on Sotomayor’s speeches, writings, nomination

WASHINGTON — The White House delivered a huge portfolio of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s writings, speeches and rulings to Capitol Hill Wednesday, with details about the federal judge that will shape the debate over seating her on the court.

White House to give Senate panel writings, speeches by Obama’s Supreme Court nominee

WASHINGTON — The White House says it will deliver a huge dossier of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s writings, speeches and unpublished rulings to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sotomayor back on Capitol Hill, as senators haggle over timing of confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON — Senators are looking closely at the records and writings of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Republicans seeking any detail that might slow her march toward confirmation and Democrats trying to bolster their case that she’s a moderate who puts the law above her beliefs and biases.

Sotomayor spends Day 2 on Capitol Hill as first lady promotes her nomination to high court

WASHINGTON — The White House dispatched first lady Michelle Obama to defend Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday, part of a broad offensive to humanize the judge that came as former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich backed off his harsh criticism of her as a racist.

Republican Gingrich says he shouldn’t have called Sotomayor ‘racist’, retracts allegation

WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday he shouldn’t have called Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist, but said he was still concerned that she would bring bias to her decisions.

Sotomayor seeks to reassure senators she won’t be biased as she continues Senate meetings

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is racing through a crucial set of meetings with senators on Capitol Hill, working to reassure Republicans who worry she’d bring ethnic and gender bias to her decisions.

Senate’s top Democrat praises Sotomayor, says public will identify with her ‘underdog’ past

WASHINGTON — The Senate’s top Democrat praised federal judge Sonia Sotomayor Tuesday as an extraordinarily well-qualified Supreme Court nominee whose background as an “underdog” appeals to Americans.

Obama Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor begins Hill visits by meeting Senate’s top Democrat

WASHINGTON — Appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor has begun meeting with senators on Capitol Hill who will vote on her Supreme Court confirmation.

Obama’s Supreme Court pick to make the rounds on Capitol Hill in drive toward hearings

WASHINGTON — Appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor is getting her first chance to make an impression on senators who will vote on her nomination to the Supreme Court, with a marathon set of Capitol Hill meet-and-greets that kicks off what could be a long debate.

Sotomayor prepares for Senate greetings as activity, attention shift to Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON — Venturing into a tradition of protocol and politics, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor prepared Monday to greet the senators who will decide her judicial future as control of her Supreme Court journey shifts to Capitol Hill.

GOP senators let slide racially charged accusations against Sotomayor, allow Limbaugh attack

WASHINGTON — Republican Senate leaders won’t call Sonia Sotomayor a racist. But they’re fine with Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich playing the race card to rile up an out-of-power GOP.

In search of a strategy, GOP senators let slide racially charged accusations against Sotomayor

WASHINGTON — Leading GOP senators on Sunday offered more subtle criticism of the first Hispanic nominated to the Supreme Court, but passed up the chance to stifle racially charged critiques of Sonia Sotomayor by some fellow Republicans.

Republican senators tone down criticism of Supreme Court nominee, don’t support ‘racist’ label

WASHINGTON — Republican senators on Sunday avoided joining those in the party using racially charged criticism against President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, underscoring the party’s challenge in opposing the first Hispanic to be chosen for the nation’s highest bench.