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Fresh criticism, praise for nominee

GOP senators wouldn't say if they'd accede to conservatives' call to slow a Sotomayor vote.

WASHINGTON - Conservatives stepped up their criticism yesterday of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, but it was unclear how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to create bumps in what appears to be a smooth road to confirmation for President Obama's first high-court choice.

Even as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) suggested that Sotomayor let racial bias cloud her rulings, he and other GOP senators would not say whether they would accede to conservative activists' demands to try to delay a final vote to confirm her until September.

At the same time, the National Rifle Association raised what it called "very serious concerns" about Sotomayor based on her stance on weapons rights, yet it stopped short of opposing her, citing its "respect for the confirmation process."

The fresh critiques came as the American Bar Association rated her "well-qualified" to be a justice after its members conducted scores of confidential interviews with her colleagues and pored through her record and writings to assess her integrity, qualifications, and temperament.

Democrats and civil-rights leaders defended Sotomayor against allegations that she is an activist who would let racial bias affect her decisions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings Monday on her nomination to succeed Justice David H. Souter. If confirmed, she would be the high court's first Hispanic.

The NRA said senators should question Sotomayor on her views on the Second Amendment and curbs on the right to bear arms, and threatened to oppose her if her answers were "hostile or evasive." In a letter to senators, Chris W. Cox, the NRA executive director, said she had been "dismissive" of the amendment.

McConnell said Sotomayor's appeals ruling last year against white New Haven firefighters alleging reverse discrimination left the impression that she lets her agenda affect her judgment and favors certain groups.

"It is a troubling philosophy for any judge - let alone one nominated to our highest court - to convert empathy into favoritism for particular groups," McConnell said.

The Supreme Court last week reversed the appeals panel ruling that Sotomayor had joined.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D., Vt.) warned the GOP against holding up a final confirmation vote. Republicans "can use their rights in the Senate," he said, "but I have a feeling the American public would say: 'What are you afraid of? Why don't you vote?' "

Leahy spoke at a gathering of law-enforcement leaders who announced their endorsement of Sotomayor. Her allies also pointed to support she has received from the American Hunters and Shooters Association, another gun-rights group, which last month wrote Leahy calling her "a model of judicial restraint."