Texas Republican John Cornyn announced Friday he will vote against Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court in a Senate floor speech.
Cornyn is the second of the seven Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to come out against Sotomayor in advance of the panel's July 28 vote. (Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., announced his opposition earlier this week.) A third -- Lindsey Graham of South Carolina -- announced his support for the nomination.
Cornyn's decision is hardly a surprise and his floor speech largely tracked the concerns he raised about Sotomayor during her confirmation hearing that began July 13.
Cornyn first conceded that, "for the most part - her decisions as a District Court judge and on the Second Court of Appeals were within the mainstream of American jurisprudence."
But then he renewed his criticisms about the "very radical ideas" she expressed in speeches and writings off the bench and what he considered inadequate explanations of some of her more controversial legal decisions.
"At the end of the hearing I found myself wondering who is the real Sonia Sotomayor and what kind of justice would she be?" Cornyn asked.
Given Texas' large Hispanic population, Cornyn made sure to temper his criticism with some kind words.
"I will vote with the certain knowledge, however, that she will be confirmed despite my vote," Cornyn said. " I wish her well. I congratulate her on her historic achievement. I know she will be an inspiration to young people - within the Hispanic community and beyond."
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