 During her September 1997 hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee , Sotomayor parried strong questioning from some Republican members about mandatory sentencing , gay rights , and her level of respect for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas . After a long wait , she was approved by the committee in March 1998 , with only two dissensions . However , in June 1998 , the influential Wall Street Journal editorial page opined that the Clinton administration intended to " get her on to the Second Circuit , then elevate her to the Supreme Court as soon as an opening occurs " ; the editorial criticized two of her district court rulings and urged further delay of her confirmation . The Republican block continued . 
