The Senate Judiciary Committee held its fourth day of hearings on the appointment of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the retirement of Justice David Souter.

Witnesses called by both the majority and minority members testified about their impressions of Judge Sotomayor, her record, and their views of her qualifications for a place on the Supreme Court. Many questions focused on issues of race and ethnicity, and the potential bearing Judge Sotomayor’s Hispanic ethnicity, background and experiences might have on her jurisprudence. Two of the New Haven firefighters who were plaintiffs in Ricci v. DeStefano case, which overturned a ruling of Judge Sotomayor, participated in the panel.

Further panels testified about the nomination on subsequent parts.