Democratic Senators Rally Support For Sotomayor; Hearing Witness List Released

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) held a press conference on Thursday to rally support for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, whose confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee begins Monday, Roll Call reports. Boxer said that there is no need for abortion-rights groups and other women"s advocacy groups to publicly express their support for Sotomayor because the confirmation process has been progressing well. She said, "Things are going well. There"s no need to get involved." However, Boxer added that "foul play" by Republicans to delay the confirmation would prompt women"s organizations to more publicly advocate for Sotomayor (Brady, Roll Call, 7/9).Hearing Witness List Released The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday released witness lists for Sotomayor"s confirmation hearings, the New York Times reports. The Republicans" list includes Charmaine Yoest, president of the antiabortion-rights group Americans United for Life. Among Democrats" list is JoAnne Epps, dean of the Beasley School of Law at Temple University, on behalf of the National Association of Women Lawyers (Phillips, New York Times, 7/10).