News Release

Washington, DC. – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said today he enjoyed a “pleasant, but brief” meeting this afternoon with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Following the 15-minute meeting, Crapo said he would wait to decide how he would vote on Sotomayor’s nomination until after formal confirmation hearings expected next month before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Judge Sotomayor and I enjoyed a pleasant, but brief meeting, and I appreciate her willingness to meet with Senators personally in advance of her confirmation hearings,” Crapo noted. “That said, the best course of action is to examine her responses to questions posed in a more in-depth format during the upcoming confirmation hearings, and make a more informed decision about her nomination at that point.”

The meeting between Crapo and Sotomayor took place in the Capitol office of Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) to limit Judge Sotomayor’s travel on Capitol Hill due to a broken ankle. Judge Sotomayor has been nominated by President Obama to replace the retiring David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. She presently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, and is from New York.

Crapo said he and Sotomayor had a “good discussion” about judicial activism and he told her of his concerns about future court action involving the Second Amendment. He noted Sotomayor told him she believes policy making is not the role of a judge. Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin July 13th.

“Although Judge Sotomayor has an impressive legal background, questions have been raised regarding her previous rulings, writings and comments on many important issues, including the 2nd Amendment and the role of the judiciary in our form of government,” Crapo added. “A justice sitting on our nation’s highest court should be willing to interpret the law, rather than legislate from the bench. This ensures that personal biases are kept out of judicial decision-making. I disagree with judicial activism and would not support a nominee who considers this to be a judge’s function.

“We had a brief, cordial meeting today and I trust the judge’s willingness to stand for questions will continue during the Judiciary hearings next month,” Crapo concluded.