Hagan 'yes,' Burr not ready on Sotomayor

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan plans to support Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, but U.S. Sen. Richard Burr isn’t yet ready to commit.

Sotomayor spent last week answering questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about her record. The committee will begin debate Tuesday on whether to recommend her. The full Senate, including Hagan and Burr, would then cast the final vote on her confirmation, Barb Barrett reports.

Burr spokesman David Ward said Monday that the Republican senator wants to ask Sotomayor a few more questions about her record. Burr is scheduled to meet with the Supreme Court nominee next week.

"Senator Burr is continuing to review Judge Sotomayor’s judicial record as well as her remarks at last week’s Judiciary Committee hearing," Ward said in a prepared statement.  "He will be able to make a more thorough assessment of her qualifications after meeting with her next week and asking specific, substantive questions to ensure that she is committed to upholding the Constitution and the rights and freedoms it protects."

Hagan, a Democrat, said she supports the nominee.

"Justice Sotomayor said in her confirmation hearing that her underlying judicial philosophy is 'fidelity to the law,'" Hagan said in a prepared statement.

"She has an established record as a moderate judge whose decisions show a respect for precedent.  In 1998, Sen. Jesse Helms voted for her confirmation to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is based in New York. Based on her record and testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, I intend to support her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court."