Under sharp questioning from Senate Republicans on Tuesday, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor insisted that she brings “an open mind” to judging, while acknowledging that some of her past statements suggesting otherwise amounted to a “rhetorical flourish that fell flat.”

Sotomayor acknowledged, “Life experiences are important to the process of judging,” but added, “The law commands the result.” She also stated firmly, “The process of judging is the process of keeping an open mind.”