Media ignore Sessions' double-standard on judges' reliance on personal experience
In reports on the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor, numerous media outlets quoted Sen. Jeff Sessions' assertion that he would not vote for a justice who would rely on personal experience to decide cases. But Sessions voted to confirm Samuel Alito, who highlighted the importance of his personal experience during his hearing.
In reports on the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, numerous media outlets, including the Politico, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, and PBS, quoted or reported on Sen. Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) assertion that "I will not vote for -- and no senator should vote for -- an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their personal background, gender prejudices, or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court." These outlets did not note that Sessions voted to confirm Justice Samuel Alito, who stated during his confirmation hearing in 2006, "When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account."
