Hatch warns against Sotomayor pick

Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor would face a difficult time getting through the Senate if nominated to the Supreme Court, top Judiciary Committee Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) warned Thursday.

Hatch said that statements made by Sotomayor about judges making policy was a cause for concern that could hold up a potential nomination by President Obama.

“She would have, I think, a more difficult time if she was nominated because of statements like that and, of course, she has a whole raft of opinions that I think would have to be scrutinized very carefully,” Hatch said during an appearance on Fox News.

The comments are a warning shot against a nominee who, conventional wisdom has suggested, is a frontrunner to fill the vacancy left by retiring Justice David Souter.

President Obama said that he prefers a nominee who would sail through the Senate confirmation process and be seated by the beginning of the Court’s next term in October.

While Hatch said he preferred not to prejudge individual nominees, he indicated a strong displeasure with Sotomayor’s remarks.

“I’m not very happy about judges who will substitute their own policy preferences for what the law really is who think that they can run the country from the bench when they actually have a limited role,” Hatch said. “And that role is to interpret the laws made by those who have to stand for reelection.”

Watch a video of Sotomayor’s original comments below: