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The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 along partisan lines to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to a seat on the US Supreme Court. Groups like the National Rifle Association and the anti-abortion Americans United for Life, had spent the past few weeks furiously urging No votes on President Obama’s first Supreme Court Nominee. The lengthy confirmation hearings at which Sotomayor was questioned by Senators earlier this month included a constant barrage of questions by Republican lawmakers as to her ability to make impartial decisions. Only one Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham, voted for Sotomayor. Among the six Republicans who dissented, Senator Grassley claimed that he was “not sure that Judge Sotomayor is capable of wearing the judicial blindfold.” He added, “Unfortunately, I’m not convinced that Judge Sotomayor will be able to set aside her personal preferences and prejudices.” The breakdown of votes reveals how partisan these decisions have become in recent years. Most Supreme Court nominees before the time of Judge Alito and Roberts, were confirmed with overwhelming bi-partisan majorities.

GUEST: Marjorie Cohn, professor of law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego