Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, gives his opening statement during the first confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 13, 2009. On the dais with him are Ranking Member Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-AL (C) and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)