Wisconsin's two US Senators were among the first to give remarks to the Supreme Court nominee. During the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Senator Herb Kohl emphasized the court's decisions affect key issues that Americans care about including public safety.
"As crime plagues our communities we navigate the balance between individual rights and the duty of law enforcement to maintain order," said Kohl.
Kohl also told Sonia Sotomayor not to answer upcoming questions in "generalities". The Wisconsin Democrat urged the nominee to share her thoughts on major legal areas like civil liberties, property rights, and privacy.
Senator Russ Feingold emphasized the Supreme Court has been such an important part of the checks and balances during the Bush administration. Feingold had a laundry list of what he considered attempts at violating the rule of law in the past 8 years, which includes the high court saying "no" to setting up a "law free zone at Guatanamo Bay" or holding a US citizen in custody with contact and rights to a lawyer.
Feingold also fired back at ranking Republican Jeff Sessions (R-Ala) who earlier in the morning suggest the nominee has engaged in "judicial activism." The Democratic Feingold says people should be wary of that term, particular when so many of the rulings of the conservative members of the court can be considered "activist" in their disregard for precedent or to override the intent of Congress.
Feingold and Kohl both voted Sotomayor to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :55)
